From double A’s to cars there are regulations on how to dispose of batteries, do you know what they are?
These days, batteries are used in just about everything, because of this it is crucial that you know and understand the proper techniques to dispose of batteries. From children’s toys to cars and phones, batteries are a must have in today’s society. While batteries are used for several devices and gadgets, they aren’t all the same. Depending on what they are used for, batteries come in all shapes, sizes, and types; and not all of these batteries are toxic or spillable, but each must be disposed of according to their type.
The general rules to dispose of batteries are as follows:
- Alkaline Batteries: Depending on your local waste regulations, alkaline batteries can simply be thrown away or recycled.
- Car Batteries: Because they contain lead acid, car batteries should be sent to a hazardous waste collection site or an auto parts retailer.
- Rechargeable Batteries: Rechargeable batteries contain nickel and cadmium, so they must be sent to a hazardous waste collection site, a recycling facility, or an electronics retailer that recycles batteries.
- Lithium Polymer Batteries: Discharge these batteries down to 0 volt, then after cutting the discharge lead, twist the voltage and ground wires together to secure that there is no charge in the pack.
- Lithium-ion Batteries: Non-spillable and also non-toxic, but do have recycled uses. Through high temperature metal reclamation, Lithium-ion batteries are recycled and reused in many new products.
To dispose of batteries improperly may result in explosions and the release of toxic chemicals into the air, but even though some don’t have these dangerous hazards, they still have a big impact in the making of new products when recycled. To ensure that chemical hazards do not occur, make sure to properly dispose of your dead or unnecessary batteries, or give us a call and we’ll come pick them up and properly dispose of each type for you.
