Batteries contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals, including mercury and lead, which can cause life-threatening diseases and birth defects. Children and pregnant women are most at risk from these potent neurotoxins. More than 3 billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S. alone, and batteries contribute 88% of the mercury present in municipal waste.
In 2010, about 7.1 million pounds of rechargeable batteries were collected for post-consumer recycling —11% less than the 8 million pounds collected in 2009.
Living far from a landfill doesn’t mean you’re safe. Heavy metals can become airborne if incinerated, can leach into water supplies if buried or abandoned, and do poison our food chain. For example, as larger fish eat smaller fish, the toxins in their bodies become more concentrated.
The more we each do to stop the spread of toxic materials, the healthier we’ll all be.
You’ll also help to keep down the cost of new batteries (since recycled materials cost less than raw materials), as well as landfill operation and cleanup costs. These types are the most important to recycle:
• Silver “button” batteries (used in watches, toys, remote controls);
• Rechargeable batteries (used in phones, computers, power tools, etc.); and
• Automotive and marine batteries (used in transportation and cargo vehicles).
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
One way to reduce your eWaste stream is to buy rechargeable batteries. About one in five dry-cell batteries purchased in the United States is rechargeable. Over its useful life, each one may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries.
FUN FACT:
Americans buy nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power cell phones, radios, toys, remotes, watches, laptops, and portable power tools.