Battery Disposal Is A Serious Matter

Did you know that if you live in California, it is illegal to dispose of your batteries in your normal everyday trash?

Yes, that is how serious this matter is. Disposing of your batteries is an extremely important matter that various groups are now pushing for stricter laws on disposing matters which can be harmful to the environment.

Millions and millions of batteries are manufactures each and every year. In the United States alone, around 3 billion batteries are sold each year. And with the booming economy of countries such as China, with the corresponding demand for power supplies to power the millions of gadgets being bought by their increasing consumer population, this figure is only expected to grow every year. Batteries run electronic gadgets like laptops, cellphones, flashlights, and numerous electronic toys. And with the growing popularity of everything becoming mobile and wireless, the tendency to provide power to these devices in mobile cells can be expected to increase in use.

Harmful Elements From Batteries

The problem is that some batteries contain metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead and nickel that can seriously damage the environment through contamination if not disposed properly. Incinerating them would not actually solve the disposal problem properly as the ash which becomes the remnant of the burning still contains the metals. And the burning process can also release some harmful elements into the air. Batteries can also explode when it comes into contact with fire or exposed to extreme heat.

Organization To Help You Dispose Your Battery

Thankfully, there are various groups who care enough in helping individuals dispose their batteries properly. Sites like earth911.org can help you locate the nearest recycling and disposal stations in your area. Just enter in your zip code in the website’s interface and you will be provided a list of all the places where you can bring your batteries (and other recyclable material) to be disposed of.

Battery manufacturers also have their own disposal facilities where you can bring your batteries for disposal. Call the phone number printed in the product packaging, or visit the company’s website to know the details. Some cities and municipalities also have their separate depots where you can dispose your batteries. Just give your local government a call to find out.

Buy The Right Kinds Of Batteries

But aside from this, there are other things that people can do to help in preserving the environment and protecting it from the harmful effects of chemicals from these batteries. We can all start by buying the right kinds of batteries in the first place. Buy alkaline batteries which can be disposed together with your other household garbage simply because the chemicals found in alkaline batteries do not pose a threat to the environment. Or better yet, buy rechargeable batteries. They would even prove to be economically wise for you as a battery user since you can use a rechargeable battery over and over just by recharging it.

Technology should help us all move forward without destroying the environment in which we live in. Let us all do our share in protecting our environment. And we can start by doing the simple things like disposing our batteries properly.