Columnists > Ellen Brown > ArticlesNovember 14, 2005

By Ellen Brown

Household batteries include both single-use and rechargeable dry cell batteries used to power toys, cameras, radios, flashlights, hearing aids, and many other portable products. Nearly all households produce waste batteries, in fact Americans use and discard about 3 billion batteries every year. That adds up to 125,000 tons of battery garbage. This waste may contain heavy metals that can find their way into the environment if the batteries are not disposed of properly. By reducing battery use, recharging reusable batteries, and recycling, you can cut down on the effect your battery use has on the environment.

Reduce

Evaluate purchasing battery powered items. Items that require a plug-in or manual operation may work as well or better than battery operated items.

Avoid purchasing batteries containing mercury. Shop for batteries that contain no added mercury.

Recharge

Reduce overall waste by using rechargeable batteries. Ni-Cd batteries can be recharged and reused up to 1,000 times before you need to replace them and rechargeable alkaline manganese batteries can be reused up to 25 times before needing to be replaced.

Using rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run. Instead of continuously buying new batteries you'll simply keep recharging the old ones. The initial investment of rechargeable batteries and a charger will quickly pay for itself, as well as generating far less waste.

Recycle

Rechargeable Ni-Cd and Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries contain nickel, cadmium and/or lead that can be recycled at household hazardous waste collection sites.

Button batteries contain mercury and silver that can be recycled. These batteries should also be brought to a household hazardous waste collection site.

Nearly all households produce waste batteries, in fact Americans use and discard about 3 billion batteries every year.

Household Battery Do's:

• Do use rechargeable batteries whenever possible and recycled the Ni-Cd and SLA rechargeable batteries when they have been exhausted.

• Do recycle button batteries by taking them to a household hazardous waste collection site.

• Do buy "no-mercury added" batteries.

• Do remove batteries from items you plan to store for prolonged periods of time so they don't corrode, leak and ruin your equipment.

• Do purchase batteries just before you need them because batteries do have a limited life.

• Do remove the hidden batteries in disposable toys, cards, watches and calculators before throwing those items away.

Household Battery Don'ts:

• Don't mix new batteries with old batteries. This draws more power from the new battery, shortening its life.

• Don't place batteries or battery-powered equipment in hot areas (like the back window of a car). Heat accelerates chemical reactions inside of batteries and shortens their life.

• Don't store or mix loose batteries with metal objects. Batteries may short-circuit, cause sparks or generate temperatures hot enough to start a fire.

• Don't mix different types of batteries within the same device (e.g. rechargeable Ni-Cd and alkaline rechargeable). This can reduce battery life or even ruin your equipment.

Battery Type	Common Name	Common Use	Proper Disposal
Alkaline. Manganese	Coppertop, Alkaline, Energizer	Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls	Place in trash
Button	Mercuric Oxide, Silver Oxide, Lithium, Alkaline, Zinc-air	Watches, hearing aids, toys, greeting cards, remote control	Bring to household hazardous waste collection site
Carbon Zinc	"Classic," Heavy Duty, General Purpose, All Purpose, Power Cell	Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls, transistor radios, garage door openers	Place in trash
Lithium	Usually states "Lithium" on the label	Cameras, calculators, computer memory back-up, tennis shoes	Place in trash
	Usually unlabeled or labeled "Ni-Cd"	Flashlights, toys, cellular phones, power tools, computer packs	Bring to household hazardous waste collection site
Reusable Alkaline Manganese (Rechargeable)	Renewal	Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, radios, remote controls	Place in trash
Sealed Lead Acid (Rechargeable)	"Gel," VRB, AGM, Cyclone, Dynasty, El Power, Gates, Lithonia, Saft, Panasonic, Yuasa	Video Cameras, power tools, wheelchairs, ATV's cameras, metal detectors, clocks	Bring to household hazardous waste collection site

About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com

Post Feedback

Read feedback for this post below.

• What is a Recharge?
• Getting More Life Out of Your Laptop and Phone Batteries
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost

• Recharging a Dead Laptop Battery
• Auto Battery Care
• Replacing a Watch Battery