Learn About Battery Recycling

There are various types of consumer batteries on the market today, from the lead-acid batteries we all use in our cars to the small button batteries we use in our watches. There are household batteries like AA, AAA, C, D and also the 9-volt type. Some of them are rechargeable, some are not, but, whatever the type of battery, they all have chemicals inside them - the three worst ones being lead, cadmium, and mercury.

As it stands, only around three to five per cent of all batteries are actually recycled. Most old batteries end up in a landfill, where they leak toxic chemicals into the soil. Recycling batteries at designated recycling plants really makes a difference, and goes a long way to helping protect the environment. Most of us recycle at least some paper, plastic or glass, so why not batteries too?

Some people say that recycling batteries is too difficult or inconvenient, but that is no more than an excuse, and a poor one at that. Lots of supermarkets have recycling points for batteries, and you can also find them in some libraries and schools. All you have to do is take your batteries and drop them in a box. Not hard, right? If you cannot think of anywhere in your local area that recycles batteries than do a quick search on Google for ‘recycle batteries + the name of your town’.

What follows is a list of the most common types of batteries and a brief look at if / how they can be recycled…

Button batteries : These small circular batteries are found in watches and hearing aids. If they are recycled then the mercury-oxide or silver-oxide within them can be reclaimed and used in the production of new batteries. They do not always advertise the fact (though they should do), but jewelers and pharmacies are happy to take these expired batteries from you.

Car batteries : Companies who sell car batteries are legally obliged in most countries to help with the recycling of expired car batteries, and so you can take your old ones to them and let them take care of the rest of the process. They will have contacts who can melt down the plastic components (to be used for new plastic products) and turn the lead into new batteries.

Household batteries : These are the ones used in clocks, toys, torches, etc. and you no doubt have lots of them in your house at this very moment. Unfortunately, they are not that easy to recycle, however, that does not mean that you should simply throw them in the trash when they have stopped working. You should still take them to battery recycling points so that they can be disposed of properly.

So, you now know about the importance of recycling batteries and also how to go about doing your bit to help the environment. Your contribution may seem like a small, insignificant one, but it is because too many people are of that mindset that we have the environmental problems that we face now.

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