With amazing new technologies developing in the realm of battery power, it’s easy to get excited about the premise of cement, structural, and solid-state lithium-metal being implemented in designs.
However, until those next-gen solutions become widely accessible, it’s best to ensure that consumers make sufficient use of what is already available, including lithium and alkaline cells in the form of AAs and AAAs found at local grocery stores by popular brands.
The electronics revolution is not poised to slow down any time soon. As devices continue to add features, they will also continue to shrink in size. EBL is a popular brand focusing on rechargeable solutions for batteries. The company’s 18650 AA batteries have an immense capacity of 3,000 mAh and are capable of enduring more than 1,200 recharge cycles.
Why Is It So Important To Recycle Batteries?
Source: Eurostat
Whether running a business or simply an individual going through life, batteries are often an inescapable part of the experience. Clocks, fire alarms, trucks, mobile phones, cars, etc. all rely on batteries. If you were to tally the number of batteries whose power gets used on an annual basis, you might be surprised at the outcome.
Fortunately, recycling used, depleted batteries is an extremely easy way to increase profit margin and reduce cost. Although it may appear as trash to you, many scrap yards have a demand for these seemingly useless devices and often pay you cash in exchange for them. Of course, the rate depends on the quantity and type of batteries you are attempting to recycle.
Depending on your location, you could be held legally accountable for improper disposal of defective or damaged batteries. This is due to the fact that various materials such as nickel-cadmium, lead-acid, and lithium are safety hazards when not handled in an appropriate manner.
When batteries are damaged or corroded, they begin to leak chemicals in not just the soil but also the ocean. This harms not only the environment but human health. That’s why they must always be properly recycled.
How To Recycle Batteries
No matter the manufacturer or the extended lifespan of a set of batteries, even rechargeable solutions will inevitably fail over a period of time. Due to the amount of waste produced by simply discarding your batteries in the trash, it’s essential to recycle them properly and take care of the environment.
Source: Call2Recycle
There is a multitude of centers available to make this process seamless for anyone, especially for EPL batteries. For example, call2recycle.org is an organization that allows people various ways to safely discard their batteries. Furthermore, it is regarded as the nation’s largest, most reliable program.
For one, they can be dropped off at no cost at thousands of locations across the United States, including major retailers such as Staples, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Regardless of whether you need to recycle your batteries on a recurring basis or simply one time, the company offers recycling options for any quantity.
Source: Earth911
If you desire other options to recycle your batteries, there are other organizations that offer similar services. For instance, prior to the Internet, Earth911.com began as a recycling database for the State of Arizona. Today, they are now one of the largest in the entire world upon expanding on a nationwide level. Their online tools allow users to quickly search for, by zip code, various locations across the country which not only allow recycling but have support for specific items, including that of rechargeable batteries.
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are a classification of rechargeable batteries that utilize metallic cadmium and nickel oxide hydroxide for the electrodes. Depending on the type, whether dry-cell or wet-cell, there are specific guidelines that must be followed in order to properly dispose of these.
Source: SolarReviews
Due to their wide array of sizes, NiCd batteries are incredibly versatile, offer a superior lifespan, and can deliver full capacity even with extremely high discharge rates. However, in addition to the high rates of discharge, the materials that compose these types of batteries are more expensive than others to produce.
NiCd batteries are utilized in both commercial and industrial settings, with each containing different materials. Regardless, cadmium is an extremely toxic heavy material and, if not recycled properly, can cause high levels of pollution. For these particular types of rechargeables, the Battery Recyclers of America offer proven solutions and industry-leading processes with EPA-approved facilities that service every state.
What Does The Battery Recycling Process Entail?
Nearly every part of the lead-acid battery is recyclable. The main process involves a series of sequential steps. At first, the outer casing is disassembled or broken apart. Next, the components inside the battery are either broken apart, crushed, or melted. Finally, the numerous components are sorted, cleaned, processed, then returned to be used in a new stream of materials.
The goal of smelting is to acquire the molten, unrefined lead contained within a depleted battery to reuse it in a new battery. Plastic components are either ground or shredded and melted. In a similar way, the molten plastic is repurposed into pellets which allows it to be used in the manufacturing of other goods, like new battery casings.
Still, even most recycling processes are not perfect because, for each of the various stages, dust and fumes from the lead are released into the air, which contaminates the wider environment as well as the workplace. It is becoming less popular to implement manual methods due to the risk factors when exposed to workers. If plastic components are washed inadequately prior to reuse, they too can become contaminated with lead.
However, the utilization of enclosed, automated measures for pollution control help to alleviate these emissions.
Why Does The Type Of Battery I’m Recycling Matter?
Misidentifying the type of battery that is to be recycled can result in hazardous recycling and shipping incidents. Contacting any of the above services will allow you to be pointed in the proper direction to not only identify your battery but also where to recycle them.