Batteries. They literally power so many tools and machines in our lives. From being involved in great proportions for car batteries to small scale factors such as Triple A batteries in a simple television remote, batteries make up basic everyday objects that we depend on everyday. However, how are batteries recycled, and how is this helpful to our environment?
How Do You Recycle A Battery?
Usually, many alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, and button cell batteries) are disposed of in a trash can, tossed aside to be incinerated. However, according to the Resource Recycling Systems, around "75% to 92% of expanded batteries are discarded improperly."
The typical recycling process generally follow the method: collection, mechanical breakdown, chemical processes to separate and recover materials form the batteries, and then purification and reuse. Collection, the first step, is pretty self-explanatory as it simply involves gathering together all the used batteries from consumers and sorting them by chemical properties to adequately extract certain materials from each type. Through mechanical breakdown, batteries are often shredded to break them up into smaller pieces. Next, different methods of chemical and thermal processes are used to individually separate materials within the battery (lead, steel, lithium, etc.) through smelting, hydrometallurgy, and gravity separation, and steel mills. Lastly, the purification of different materials vary by nature before they are reformed through physical processes to be redistributed back to consumers.
In What Ways Does Battery Recycling Help Our Environment?
Well, for starters, battery recycling has been scientifically proven to decrease "greenhouse gases, energy consumption, and water usage" by a study from the Stanford Report. By recovering vital metals from batteries, recycling facilities are helping to offset the excessive mining practices that have been previously employed and can help stop the fragile supply and demand relationship for batteries. Additionally the study shows that "uses about one-fourth of the water and energy of mining new metals", which is significant as water is an incredibly vital resource to save in a period of extreme weather. This greatly impactful decision to recycle batteries can not only teach all of us everyday people about the importance of batteries but also how beneficial recycling is.
Final Thoughts
Recycling can be applied to many areas: food, water, and energy in the form of batteries. For decades we have greatly utilized batteries that our life is literally powered by it. However, we can only use them more sustainably if we make to choice to recycle them. We must stop simply throwing away batteries in our trash can. Seemingly harmless and simple acts can cause a ripple effect of harm and danger that we aren't aware of. Choose to be aware of the power of recycling and act upon it with small steps.
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