Why batteries are bad for the environment

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. The global environmental impact of batteries is assessed in terms of four main indicators. These indicators further distinguish the impact of disposable and rechargeable batteries. Production, transportation and distribution of batteries consumes natural resources, thereby contributing to an accelerating depletion of natural resources.

Rechargeable batteries consume less nonrenewable natural resources than disposable batteries because fewer rechargeable batteries are needed to provide the same amount of energy. The manufacture and transportation of batteries emits exhaust and other pollutants into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Per unit of energy delivered, rechargeable batteries contribute less to global warming than disposable batteries. This is because less greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the manufacture and transportation of rechargeable batteries.

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.

Sometimes your local municipal recycling service will take them. Another option is to recycle them in bulk. Big Green Box listed in the Resource section allows you to do that. Kathy Kattenburg has been a writer for more than 30 years. Her articles have been published in "N. Jewish News" and "Suburban Essex," and she is a contributing writer and full partner at Not the Singularity. How Do Batteries Work? List of Materials That Are Recyclable.

The Effects of Improper Waste Disposal. Lithium Ion Batteries Vs. NiCad Batteries. Technological Advancement and the Effect on the Ecosystem. Lithium vs. Lithium Ion Batteries. The Effects of Improper Garbage Disposal. For specific questions related to visuals, please contact Todd Reubold. For other inquiries, email contact ensia. The post is now in your clipboard.

October 26, — Batteries are ubiquitous yet often ignored, humming in the background while powering appliances, smartphones, and other parts of our lives. But batteries themselves have environmental drawbacks, too. They contain toxic and in some cases flammable materials. And they require lots of energy to manufacture, which means high greenhouse gas emissions. As researchers continue to experiment with new materials and designs — and as regulators look to shape policy — the report and its accompanying infographic outlines several areas for improvement.

Metals like cobalt and nickel are essential for conducting electricity in many batteries, but digging them out of the ground leaves behind waste that can leak toxic substances into surrounding areas. To mitigate these harms, the report calls for more reuse and recycling of battery materials. Researchers are working to develop higher density batteries, which the report points to as another helpful solution.

By storing more energy in a smaller space, such batteries use less metal. And compared with batteries that are less dense, they can power a device for a longer stretch of time, so, for example, that electric vehicles can travel farther before needing to be recharged.