How to Safely Recycle Batteries

This week we've reached the third "R" - the one that is the most talked about these days - and of course that's recycling (if you've missed the first two - reduce and reuse, those are especially important, so be sure to check out our earlier posts in the series). Once you've done everything you can to reduce your production of waste, and reuse or re-purpose whatever you can, now it's time to recycle whatever's left. (Oh yes, and of course don't forget when it comes to kitchen and food waste, the ultimate and best form of recycling is composting! We talk a lot more about that on our sustainable gardening blog, so be sure to check that out as well - just click any of the tags below the article to pull up more articles on that topic.)

By now, most people are pretty familiar with how to recycle plastic, paper, and glass, but what about electronics and batteries? This week we'll focus on these newer and trickier categories of recyclables, and how you can keep these items and their potentially dangerous chemical ingredients out of our landfills.

Batteries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people don’t think about it all that much and just throw batteries away.  This is not only bad for the environment, it’s also dangerous if kids or pets get into the garbage and get a hold of them. We all know not to even touch battery acid if it leaks, so why would we just throw these toxic chemicals out into the landfill where they can leach into the soil and groundwater?

In addition to battery acid, the metals of batteries can be dangerous when left to leak into the soil.  Heavy metals can get into your soil, water and even into your food. 

Instead of throwing out your batteries, you can simply recycle them.  This keeps those dangerous poisons out of the environment and reduces the amount of trash in landfills.  In fact, many places now consider batteries a form of hazardous waste and prohibit them being thrown away; however, even in these areas, very few batteries are being recycled.

If you get a large battery replaced, like in your car or boat, make sure you know what’s happening to your old battery.  While it may cost you a small fee, you should be able to ensure your battery is properly recycled after it’s taken out of your vehicle.  There are many companies that now offer services to help companies recycle batteries.  You can find a place that already recycles, or encourage your mechanic to do so.

Other batteries might take a little more effort to recycle.  You will likely need to take them to a hazardous waste recycling station.  While you may not have a clue of where to find them, a quick online search will help you find local drop offs where you can take your batteries.  If it’s far away or a bit of a hassle to get to, you can have a place in your house to store dead batteries until you have enough to take over.  Just remember not to let them sit too long because they can begin to deteriorate and become dangerous.

You may also find that local businesses will recycle batteries for you.  There are companies that will set up recycling for businesses for a low price, so they may offer to recycle for you if you can get your batteries into the store.  If you look around, you may find a convenient location so you don’t have to go all the way to a recycling center.

Rechargeable batteries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And when it comes to household batteries, why not just use rechargeables?  Sure, you’re going to eventually have to throw them away, but throwing away one set of batteries is a whole lot less of a mess than throwing out fifty.  It used to be the case that rechargeables were a pain to charge up and didn’t last long, but technology has improved significantly.  Now you can get speed chargers that get your batteries fully charged in just a few minutes and last as long as a regular battery.

Once you’ve safely recycled your batteries, keep going.  Everything in your home from electronics to fluorescent light bulbs can be recycled to provide us with a safer, cleaner world.  So start researching and get recycling!

For how to recycle electronics, be sure to check back Thursday.

8 Reasons Why You Should Use Rechargeable Batteries

While many may argue that convenience is a reason to use disposable batteries, using rechargeables is generally better. Here are some reasons why.

Image by freefotouk via Flickr1. Disposable batteries contain toxic heavy metals. There is no way to remove these metals safely, so when you throw away a disposable battery, it ends up in the landfill with all its toxins with it. Batteries do not biodegrade very easily.

2. The sheer quantity of disposable batteries that end up in landfills is staggering. Literally tons of them are thrown away each year. Although recycling programs for disposable batteries are in place in some areas, such programs are few and far between. And not everyone uses them even if they are locally available.

3. Rechargeable batteries contain toxic metals as well, but they can be recycled more easily. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation has a program called Call2Recycle, and this is a fairly widespread program. Some major retailers participate, providing drop-off points for consumers.

4. Rechargeable batteries also have a much longer life before being recycled. In fact, they average anywhere from 500 to 1000 charges before they wear out, and that's more than a year's worth of use. (I have several that I have been using for up to 2 years, and they still work fine.)

5. Rechargeable batteries generally come in the same sizes and varieties as disposables. And as the popularity of rechargeables grows, the number of varieties is increasing - and the price is also dropping.

Image via Wikipedia6. The charger for reusable batteries is small and easy to carry, and often has a hook-up that enables it to receive power from your car (via the cigarette lighter). They are usually quite inexpensive, and sometimes you can even get a charger that comes with a couple of batteries included.

7. You will save money when using rechargeables. Yes, the batteries themselves are more expensive, and then there's the cost of the charger. But the charger only has to be purchased once, and the batteries themselves only rarely. Ultimately, the savings add up. After all, the average household goes through 100 disposable batteries a year. That's quite a lot of money. But you will only have to buy new rechargeable batteries once every 12-18 months or even less.

8. The newer rechargeable batteries available today hold a charge for a long time, making them a good choice for power-hungry electronic devices like digital cameras.

Using rechargeable batteries is better for the planet. And you'll find they save you money in the long run and provide enough "juice" for any portable device.

I've switched all my devices to rechargeable over the past couple of years, and am very happy with them. I've never had a problem - they last quite a while (in fact, some fully charged rechargeables last longer per charge than a disposable battery). My preferred brand is Rayovac if you can find them - they are usually several dollars cheaper than the other brands, and they work great. Pick up a pack today, and save some green while going green!

Related Articles on Using Rechargeable Batteries:

• Rechargeable Batteries Are A Better Choice (cleanandgreenproductssite.wordpress.com)
• Battery recycling more than doubled in 2011 (theprovince.com)
• Are there any rechargeable batteries that are bad for the environment? (greenanswers.com)
• Have You Made Rechargeable Battery Recycling Part of Your Green Routine? (prweb.com)
• Rechargeable Batteries (moneysavingclub.com)