What is the best way to recycle batteries?
My family uses a ton of batteries, but I’ve been switching them for rechargeable batteries instead. What do I do with the old single use alkaline batteries? i have 9v AA AAA D C plus the tiny watch baterries.
I know there are recycling plants or stores, but I was thinking if I could use them for something else. Are batteries harmful to me or the environment when not in use, but just sitting there?
Thanks. A link would be helpful.
Take rechargeable batteries to any of the participating retailers. In the U.S.: Alltel, Batteries Plus, BD Batteries, Best Buy, Black & Decker, Cingular Wireless, The Home Depot, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Orchard Supply, Porter Cable Service Center, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless, and Wal-Mart.
And in Canada: Battery Plus, Bell Mobility, Canadian Tire, FIDO/Microcell, Future Shop, The Home Depot, Home Hardware, London Drugs, Makita Factory Service Centers, Personal Edge/Centre du Rasoir, RadioShack Canada, Revy, Sasktel, Sears, The Sony Store, Telus Mobility and Zellers.
Unfortunately, there is no cost effective method for recycling Primary (non rechargeable) batteries like AA, AAA, C, D, or 9V at this time. Some schools do it, but you should concentrate on switching to rechargable NiMH or NiCd as you already are.
WHY?
All Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when improperly disposed of.
When incinerated, heavy metals can be released into the air (mercury) or can concentrate in the ash (lead and cadmium) produced by the combustion process.
When allowed to corrode, these metals can seep into the ground water or stream systems. Dry cell batteries contribute about 88 percent of the total mercury and 50 percent of the cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream. In the past, batteries accounted for nearly half of the mercury used in the United States and over half of the mercury and cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream.
I find the best way to recycle batteries is to throw them at my dog when he tries to take a dump on my pillows. That’s not metaphorical.
buy reusable batteries.
This link below somewhat officially says just toss them in the trash…
Recycling Kit
No they are not harmful just lying around, however they contain lead and other undesirable elements that you do not want to come in direct contact with. Aside from recycling them properly there is no other use that I know of for them. Batteries disposed of in landfills and trash incinerators put out significant amounts of heavy metals and other toxic substances into the air and water table, battery waste prevention and recycling strategies are essential.
Local Council generally provides a free collection for batteries. Don’t bother keeping them because they can be harmful if they are stored and start to leak, etc. If they are recycled the rate of recovery is high (around 90-98% or so) and the materials can be reused with minimal waste and will use less energy to make new products than if raw materials were used.
As well as government alot of waste contractors will provide boxes for a fee which are generally used in offices where staff are encourage to recycle.
Try to build a Bedini Monopole Motor to re-charge the batteries. It has been claimed that it can be done with this device due to its unique pulsing action. Does wonders for re-conditioning rechargable batteries anyway – that makes it worth the build anyway.