One household product that is causing a problem these days is throwaway batteries. When a battery in one of your gadgets dies, its easy to run for a replacement. If dead batteries land in your garbage, where do they go next? The landfill?
Tons of Reasons Why You Should Stop Buying Single-Use Batteries.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each year Americans throw away more than three billion batteries. That’s about 180,000 tons of batteries. More than 86,000 tons of these are single use alkaline batteries. Imagine, placed end to end these dead alkaline batteries alone would circle the world at least six times. About 14,000 tons of rechargeable batteries are thrown away in the United States.
The AA, C and D cells that power electronic toys and games, portable audio equipment and a wide range of other gadgets make up 20% of the household hazardous materials in America’s landfills.
Unlike compostable trash, batteries are a hazardous waste. Sealed inside alkaline cells are harmful materials which you don’t come into contact with during normal use. When that battery enters a landfill, however, the casing can be crushed or can easily degrade. This causes mercury and other toxins to leach into the environment – the air you breath and the water you drink. Air and water – the two most necessary elements for life to exist. The other heavy metals included in batteries are nickel, cadmium, cobalt and lead – highly detrimental to your. Also in batteries are corrosive acids that can eat their way through many other materials and when these acids reach the right temperature, they can explode and release toxic fumes into the air. Many of the rechargeable batteries contain heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium, cobalt, mercury. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, cadmium can cause lung damage, kidney disease and death, while lead can damage the kidneys, nervous system and reproductive system.
What are we all doing to our world?
Instead of contributing to the problem, the good news is that you can make a difference right now.
- You can replace your single-use batteries with recyclable rechargeables (which can be used up to 1000 times).
- You can dispose of all your single-use batteries in a responsible manner.
- You can recycle your new rechargeable batteries at no cost.
- You will save money and ensure that fewer batteries get into landfills.
Recycle responsibly, easily and affordably. Recycling
Note: Not all rechargeable batteries are highly recyclable. We have found rechargeable batteries for you which include the most recyclable battery chemistry on the market, certified by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Coalition (RBRC)