The answer is a
'no-brainer': all household batteries should
be put out for recycling. The alternative is not appealing,
because when a battery is buried with general household
rubbish the outer casing will eventually fail. The contents leak out into the
surrounding soil and water to contaminate the environment
with chemicals and metals such as lead, cadmium, zinc, silver,
nickel and mercury. If the rubbish goes to an
incinerator these heavy
metals can cause air pollution. None of this is good for wildlife nor
for the human population which could be directly
affected.
On the other hand, the
batteries recycled are sent to specialist centres where the
valuable metals are recovered and re-used. Energy is also saved as
recycling in this way reduces the need for new, raw
materials.
You may think that you don't
use many batteries, but many items at home are
battery powered. This list names a few - you
might have others in your home:
- TV remote controls
- mobile phones
- laptops / tablets
- watches
- cameras
- radios
- children's toys and games
- torches
- portable powertools for diy and the
garden
- kitchen gadgets
- electric toothbrushes and
shavers
- hearing aids (these batteries can also
be recycled at doctors' surgeries and hospitals)
All types of household
batteries, both disposable and rechargeable are recyclable,
including:
AAA, AA, C and D
sizes; button batteries; mobile phone batteries; laptop batteries.
Car batteries are slightly
different as they are treated as 'hazardous waste'. This means that, although they can be
recycled, they cannot be collected in household, kerbside
collections. They can be taken to the Punchbowl or Ashley
Recycling Centre (or some garages / auto retailers will buy back
used car batteries from you).
As an alternative to kerbside
recycling look out for the battery recycling bins
at supermarkets or other shops which sells batteries - or take
them directly to the nearest recycling centre.
For some batteries, you can
support your favourite charity's recycling appeal by sending in,
for example, your mobile phone, iPod or digital camera, including
its battery (usually via a Freepost envelope supplied by the
charity).
You can also reduce the number
of batteries you use by choosing rechargeable batteries wherever
possible as an alternative to disposable ones; using solar powered rechargers if
available;
and using alternative power
sources such as a wind-up radio or torch, or a solar powered
calculator.
Please help our environment and
choose to recycle when
throwing away worn out batteries.
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