Rechargeable batteries have successfully reduced the number of batteries entering the landfills. Batteries that are rechargeable don’t last forever and eventually need to be disposed of. The trouble is some people are still improperly disposing rechargeable batteries The toxic chemicals that make up batteries can leak once added to a landfill and contaminate water sources by entering into the ground water. There is no need for that when there are easily accessible locations that willing accepts those rechargeable batteries to keep them out of landfills.
Big box stores, electronic stores, and recycling centers will accept used rechargeable batteries. To find a drop off location you can go here at RBRC (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation). When rechargeable batteries are recycled, the following chemicals from those batteries don’t enter the ground water:
- Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
- Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
- Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
- Small Sealed Lead* (Pb)
The recovered metals can be reused for a variety of purposes. Nickel and iron can be recycled and used for by the stainless steel industry for industrial and domestic products. Cobalt (from Li-ion batteries) may be used for magnet alloy, for ceramics and by the aircraft industry. Recycled Cadmium (from Ni-Cd batteries) can be used to make new rechargeable batteries.
The process of recycling a rechargeable battery starts with discharging the battery (lithium ion batteries) to avoid a hazard potential during the recycling process. The batteries will then be crushed (plastic case broke), sorted (separate plastic material from the batteries), a second crushing (battery surface cracked to heat easier), melting (in electric vacuum furnace) and then the final product is packed.
Adults using laptops, teens using phones, and children using electronic toys should all be educated about proper disposing of rechargeable batteries and should know the locations of their local drop off places.
This video is a crash course on battery recycling:
