When I was in China, sometimes I bought some batteries for my small machines such as remotes of TV, air-conditioning. But after the power has gone, I find I don't know how to deal with these batteries. Luckily, In our community, there was a battery recycling bin near the property management office. I threw the batteries into it and ask the property manager how they deal with these batteries. But they told me that "just collect and throw them into the general bins" It sound craze but it is the fact in China. The battery recycling is not easy as your think.
Each year consumers dispose of billions of batteries, all containing toxic or corrosive materials. Some batteries contain toxic metals such as cadmium and mercury, lead and lithium, which become hazardous waste and pose threats to health and the environment if improperly disposed. Manufacturers and retailers are working continuously to reduce the environmental impact of batteries by producing designs that are more recyclable and contain fewer toxic materials.
Each year consumers dispose of billions of batteries, all containing toxic or corrosive materials. Some batteries contain toxic metals such as cadmium and mercury, lead and lithium, which become hazardous waste and pose threats to health and the environment if improperly disposed. Manufacturers and retailers are working continuously to reduce the environmental impact of batteries by producing designs that are more recyclable and contain fewer toxic materials.
Not everyone know the damage with battery waste. The two main effects of battery below:
Exhaust pollutants undergo photochemical reactions which produce toxic chemicals including ozone, other harmful gases and particulate substances. The thermal inversions associated with large cities can lead to a dangerous buildup of photochemical smog, which is known to cause human deaths. Air acidification is the accumulation of acidic substances in atmospheric particles. These particles, deposited by rain, have an impact on soil and ecosystems. Rechargeable batteries contribute less to these atmospheric effects than disposable batteries because they contribute less to air pollution.
The recycling is also not easy for the batteries. Different parts will be dealt with different ways.
- Photo-chemical Smog Pollution And Air Acidification
Exhaust pollutants undergo photochemical reactions which produce toxic chemicals including ozone, other harmful gases and particulate substances. The thermal inversions associated with large cities can lead to a dangerous buildup of photochemical smog, which is known to cause human deaths. Air acidification is the accumulation of acidic substances in atmospheric particles. These particles, deposited by rain, have an impact on soil and ecosystems. Rechargeable batteries contribute less to these atmospheric effects than disposable batteries because they contribute less to air pollution.
- Ecotoxicity And Water Pollution
The recycling is also not easy for the batteries. Different parts will be dealt with different ways.
After reading all of these, I will never use the primary battery again if it is not necessary.