What To Do With Old Batteries

Key Takeaways

The humble battery is a staple of most households. According to Heal the Planet, the typical American home uses as many as 90 alkaline cells annually. They’re very likely to be a fixture in your home, from remote controls and fire alarms to flashlights, wristwatches, IoT devices, and of course, the unwelcome talking Disney doll your child received for Christmas. 

But nowhere do they feature more than that random drawer in your kitchen, where old batteries go to…well, wait.

We all know the bin isn’t an option, but do you know what to do with old batteries? In this article, we’ll tackle the burning question of how to get rid of batteries, explaining your best options, and why they matter. 

How To Get Rid of Batteries

Green businesses have made disposing of used cells safer and simpler. Here are a few ways you can use to get rid of batteries:

Drop-off Points

One of the most accessible ways to dispose of used batteries is through designated drop-off points. Many communities offer convenient locations for battery recycling:

• Local waste disposal sites: Your local landfill or recycling center may have special bins for used cells.
• Supermarkets and electronics stores: Many of these stores offer specialized recycling stations for everyday gadgets with battery packs. Stores like Best Buy or supermarket chains often participate in such programs.
• Municipal recycling centers: Check with your city or town to find locations where you can dispose of your batteries

These drop-off points collect used cells in an eco-friendly manner, ensuring proper handling.

Mail-in Battery Recycling

If you can’t reach a drop-off point, you can always mail in your batteries for recycling. Many companies and environmental organizations have programs where you can send in your old batteries for recycling. 

Here’s how it usually works:

• Request a prepaid envelope or box: Many programs offer this service, allowing you to pack your used batteries safely.
• Mail them back: Once packed, you can send the batteries to the designated recycling facility. If you live in a remote location or have limited access to recycling facilities, sending batteries by mail is convenient.

Check if your local recycling provider offers a mail-in service. It’s often a more sustainable choice, as it reduces the transportation distance for your batteries.

Leave Them Out for Pickup

In some regions, local waste management services will pick up hazardous materials, including batteries. Here’s what you should do:

• Secure your batteries: Place your used batteries in a secure container, such as a small box or a bag, and leave them outside your home on the designated pickup day.
• Follow local guidelines: Adhere to all instructions from your local waste management authority.

The scheduled battery pickup service is convenient for those who may not have time to visit drop-off points or have many batteries.

Why Shouldn’t I Throw Batteries in the Trash?

For many, tossing batteries into the trash might seem like the easiest option when they die. However, tossing batteries into the garbage can have serious consequences—consequences that affect not just the environment but also our safety. 

Let’s highlight why throwing batteries in the trash is a bad idea, exploring the valuable materials they contain, the risks of fires and explosions, and their harmful environmental impact.

Contain Valuable Materials

Batteries are far from simple. People make them from valuable materials, many of which are in limited supply. When you discard a battery, you’re not just throwing away a dead piece of technology; you’re discarding metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. These materials are critical in manufacturing new batteries and other tech gadgets.

Industrial recycling offers a way to reclaim these materials. Instead of letting them sit in a landfill, where they serve no purpose, recycling allows for their extraction and reuse. Recovering these metals from old batteries is far less damaging to the environment than mining new resources. 

For instance, extracting lithium from batteries requires less energy than mining it from the Earth. Recycling helps conserve our planet’s natural resources and reduces the carbon footprint associated with battery production.

Flammable and Explosive

Beyond wasting valuable materials, throwing batteries in the trash is dangerous. Batteries, especially the lithium-ion kind found in most modern electronics, are notorious for their volatility. Their flammable electrolyte could catch fire or explode if things go wrong.

Imagine a lithium-ion battery in a landfill. The crashing pressure could cause it to rupture, releasing the flammable electrolyte and igniting a fire. These fires are dangerous because they can burn at insane temperatures and are a real challenge to put out with water. In fact, trying to put out a lithium battery fire with water can make it worse.

Moreover, the danger isn’t limited to fires. Damaged batteries can also explode because of the buildup of gases inside. These explosions pose a risk to waste management workers and can lead to catastrophic fires in waste facilities. It’s not just a matter of property damage—these incidents can cause serious injuries or even fatalities.

Harmful to the Environment

Batteries contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium. 

• When these substances end up in landfills, they don’t just disappear. 
• Over time, they can leach into the soil and groundwater, contaminating ecosystems and posing a risk to human health.

For example, mercury from batteries can find its way into water bodies and, ultimately, into fish. When humans consume these fish, the mercury accumulates in our bodies, potentially leading to neurological damage and other serious health issues. The component chemicals contaminating soil and water also affect plants and animals, messing up ecosystems and killing wildlife.

This environmental damage can spread far and wide, impacting areas far from the source of contamination. It’s way cheaper and easier to recycle or dispose of batteries than to deal with the costs of cleaning up the damage in the future.

Closing Thoughts

Recycling and disposing of your old electronics may seem like a chore, but it doesn’t have to be. As highlighted in the article, options like drop-off points, mail-in programs, and even scheduled pickups make the process more manageable. And let’s be honest—there’s something satisfying about knowing that the random drawer in your kitchen can finally hold something other than dead batteries.

Taking the time to recycle batteries properly benefits not just the environment but also local businesses and your sanity. After all, that space in the drawer could now be free for something far more useful—perhaps a spot for those ever-elusive scissors or the tape you always seem to misplace. So, the next time you replace the cells in a device, think twice before tossing them in the trash.

FAQs

Where Can I Recycle Batteries?

Recycling batteries is vital for the environment, and fortunately, depending on your region, you can access recycling facilities.

In the United States, Earth911 and GreenCitizen offer a convenient Recycling Locator. Enter your ZIP code, and you’ll find the nearest recycling center for various types of batteries, including alkaline, rechargeable, and button cells.

In Europe, Ecobat is a leading name in battery recycling. They operate in several countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. For those in Africa, Ecobat also has operations in southern Africa. While specific locations aren’t always listed, exploring their network can help you find suitable recycling centers.

Can I Throw Batteries in the Trash?

No, throwing batteries in the trash is not recommended. These cells contain harmful chemicals that may affect the environment. They are also a fire hazard, which can lead to fire-related disasters.

Why Are Batteries Bad for the Environment?

Batteries contribute to environmental degradation in several ways. Because of their chemical components, improper disposal of these products can result in soil and water pollution. Additionally, their production consumes natural resources like Lithium, contributing to resource depletion and environmental degradation. The process also releases greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change.