Why Can’t Batteries Be Thrown in the Bin?
Whenever you are throwing away rubbish at some home, there are certain things that you should not toss into the household bin. A majority of people know there are certain items that should never be thrown in with their general waste. However, they do not always know why.
One prime example of that is batteries. They are one of the items that you should never throw into your household bin. Why is that? In this article, we will be explaining how to dispose of old batteries properly and why that is necessary. If you have ever wondered ‘what are the different UPS battery types‘ then see here.
Why batteries cannot go into your bin.
Batteries are either secondary (reusable, rechargeable batteries) or primary (one-time use batteries). Most batteries contain the harmful heavy metals below:
- potassium
- lithium
- manganese
- cadmium
- zinc
- copper
- mercury
- lead
These elements are very hazardous to human health as well as the environment and can permeate into ground soil when put into landfills and as a result, they can end up in water supplies. That is why it is not safe to dispose of them by putting them into your household bin since ultimately their harmful chemical content will end up back in the water supply.
How can batteries be disposed of properly?
Instead of batteries being thrown into your bin, other disposal methods are available which do not threaten ecological and environmental systems and are safe.
Battery banks
Battery banks are often provided by local authorities at local institutions like leisure centers and supermarkets that local residents frequent. This gives you an easy way to safely drop off and recycle your used batteries. Just take whatever batteries you have that need to be disposed of and put them inside the battery bank. The local authorities will then safely remove and recycle them.
Ask for a battery bag to recycle your batteries.
Whenever a battery dies at your house, do you know how to properly dispose of it? Do you know which option is the most sustainable?
With your house having numerous wireless electronics, it is essential to know how to deal with dead batteries. It can vary depending on what you use them for. For example, the batteries from your TV remote should be treated differently from the rechargeable batteries in your digital camera or laptop since they can be illegal and hazardous to throw away, depending on the area that you live in. Keep reading this article for more information on the different kinds of household batteries and how can dispose of them properly.
How to Dispose of Your Household Batteries Properly
How To Get Rid of Your Single-Use Batteries
Some of the more common household batteries are single-use batteries in different sizes. You can find single-use batteries throughout your house in various sizes including D-cell, 9V, AAA, and AA. Those are the batteries that are used by your children’s toys, flashlights, TV remotes, and other types of small electronics. Batteries that fall under this category are not rechargeable.
Can you throw away single-use batteries in your trash?
Yes, today single-use batteries are made out of common metals that the federal government has deemed to be non-hazards. They can be disposed of in regular trash in every state except for California where throwing away any kind of battery is illegal. Before 1996, there was mercury contained in single-use batteries and was therefore treated as a type of hazardous waste. Button cell batteries contained in watches are one exception. They are hazardous and need to be disposed of in a similar way to rechargeable batteries.
Can you recycle single-use batteries?
Yes, single-use batteries can be recycled. However, in most cases, a fee must be paid to recycle them.