What Are The Benefits Of Battery Recycling?

Batteries are an indispensable part of modern life, often in invisible ways. They not only power personal electronics, they also operate behind the scenes as backup power sources for utilities, transportation and medical facilities. At some point, all batteries, even the rechargeable types, reach the end of their life cycle. Recycling them helps the environment and reduces consumer costs.

Keeps Heavy Metals out of the Environment

All batteries contain heavy metals. Depending on the type, this may include lead, zinc, mercury, nickel, manganese, lithium and/or cadmium. In fact, a single automobile battery contains 18 pounds of lead. Approximately 88 percent of the mercury present in the American solid waste stream comes from dry cell batteries, according to Environment, Health and Safety Online. Heavy metals from batteries that end up in landfills leach through the ground into the water supply. Incineration of batteries releases some heavy metals into the air and others remain in the resulting ash, which ultimately ends up in landfills. Recycling batteries prevents this air, ground and water pollution.

Safely Disposes of Corrosive Acids

Batteries contain strong, corrosive acids. The average car battery, for example, contains 1 lb. of sulfuric acid. Recycling batteries rather than sending them to the landfill prevents these toxic chemicals from leaching through the soil and into the water supply.

Reduces Demand for Raw Materials

Recycling batteries permits reuse of plastic and metals, which reduces the demand for raw materials. For example, a new car battery normally contains between 60 and 80 percent recycled lead and plastic, according to Battery Council International. Button batteries contain valuable metals, such as silver and zinc.

Reduces Consumer Costs

Because the cost of materials from recycled batteries is lower, manufacturers often pass the savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices for products, such as power tools, that include rechargeable battery packs.

Saves Landfill Space

Batteries are part of an enormous array of products from laptops and phones to power tools and children's toys. Some of these come with integrated battery packs. In addition, Americans use almost 3 billion dry-cell batteries and 99 million vehicle batteries per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Recycling saves the significant amount of space these batteries would take up in landfills.