KEEPING CHEMICALS OUT OF LANDFILLS TO SAVE THE EARTH
Did you know that Americans use and discard millions of single-use and rechargeable batteries each year? Our increasingly large taste for lightweight power tools, “smart” devices, and electronics has caused an explosion of these metal-containing entities. Unfortunately, some of the chemicals they contain are harmful to the environment, including mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, and silver. Others contain cobalt, lithium, and graphite—which are difficult to obtain from the earth and may become unavailable before the end of this century.
Single-use batteries include:
• The old tried and true alkaline and zinc-carbon (tubular and rectangular) batteries.
• The newer button-cell or coin batteries.
• The lithium single-use (rectangular) batteries.
The chemical makeup of batteries may be difficult to determine just from the shape. Rechargeable batteries may be less apparent since they are often ‘buried’ in the cameras, radios, digital cameras, small electronics, cars, medical equipment, and computers. A person familiar with the removal and disposal of these may be required. Still, there are enterprises—including non-profits—that help to remove and recycle them.
The most distinguishable large batteries are those used in automobiles that usually contain lead-sulfuric acid combinations—particularly contaminating the environment. But you’ll still find them abandoned along roadways and included next to garbage and recycling containers.
So, what to do? The EPA and state environmental protection agencies work hard to educate consumers about batteries and their safe disposal. The best resource to do this is to contact or search for the nearest solid waste disposal agency. These partner with companies such as Home Depot, Batteries Plus Bulbs, and the regional Metro’s hazardous waste disposal sites. With a range of free-to-modest costs, you can keep them out of the environment, ensure that subsequent generations will have these chemicals available for their use, and Go Green!
And here’s a great resource: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries
Kris Lamar
Kris Lamar has been a Master Gardener (and Master Recycler) since 2013. She is a speaker with the Clackamas County Speaker’s Guild, and a member of the Extension Ask an Expert panel. She is also a lawyer and a retired judge.
