Confused about battery recycling? You’re not alone.
If you store a pail or box of dead AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries in your garage, unsure of where to take them but hesitant to throw them in the garbage, you’re one of us!
Some time ago, the general advice was to recycle all batteries due to their heavy metal and mercury content. But recent research has found that modern batteries are not actually as dangerous for the environment as they were thought to be. Even though many waste management institutions have since recommended to dispose of household batteries in the trash, they still contain trace amounts of mercury and should be recycled.
Rechargeable batteries, however, such as the ones found in cell phones, tablets, MP3 players and laptops, are not as easy to deal with. They contain a chemical mix that’s best recycled. Contact the device’s manufacturer or your local Battery Store for information on adequate disposal.
Now, car and boat batteries are an entirely different story. You should NOT dispose of these lead-acid batteries in the garbage, or even store them on your property. Not only can poisonous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and sulfuric acid leak out of the battery and seep into the ground and water, but car and boat batteries also contain an explosive mix of flammable gases.
That said, battery recycling might just be one of recycling history’s greatest successes! 98% of a battery can be recycled into its components. To this end, approximately 60% – 80% of the components in a brand-new battery are created from recycled lead and plastics!
If you are lucky enough to live near Everett, WA, you are invited to bring all your end-of-life household, car, boat and rechargeable batteries to our E-Cycle Event on Saturday, April 26th for safe and green recycling.
Please visit www.AutoHomeBoat.com/ECycle for more information.