Home Depot and Lowes, for instance, have both partnered with a company called Call2Recycle to set up battery disposal bins at locations across the U.S. (to find one close to you, check out their locator website). The organization also maintains an interactive map that describes the battery...
My sons, who work(ed) at retail stores with "recycle" bins for plastic bags, say that they are NOT recycled. Three different stores... one of their "tasks" was to empty the plastic bag recycle bin into the dumpster. Also, "leftover" seasonal and other greeting cards/wrapping paper, ...