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Battery recycling is a recycling
Recycling

Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virg...
 activity that aims to reduce the number of batteries
Battery (electricity)

In electronics, a battery or voltaic cell is a combination of one or more electrochemical cell Galvanic cells which store chemical energy that can be converted into electric potential energy, creating electricity....
 being disposed as municipal solid waste
Municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste , also called urban solid waste, is a waste type that includes predominantly household waste with sometimes the addition of commercial wastes collected by a municipality within a given area....
. It is widely promoted by people concerned about contamination, particularly of soil contamination
Soil contamination

Soil contamination is caused by the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes...
 and water pollution
Water pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants that live in these water bodies....
, by the addition of heavy metals
Heavy metals

A heavy metal is a member of an ill-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties, which would mainly include the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides....
 and other toxic
Toxic waste

Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It usually is the product of industry or commerce, but comes also from residential use, agriculture, the military, medical facilities, radioactive sources, and light industry, such as dry cleaning establishments....
 chemicals from batteries.

types of batteries can be recycled. However, some batteries are recycled more readily than others, such as lead-acid automotive batteries
Lead-acid battery

Lead-acid batteries, invented in 1859 by France physicist Gaston Plant?, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Despite having the second lowest energy-to-weight ratio and a correspondingly low energy-to-volume ratio, their ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells maintain a relatively large power-to-weight ratio....
 (nearly 90% are recycled) and button cell
Button cell

A watch battery, button cell, silver button cell, or coin cell is a small form-factor battery designed for use in wrist watches, pocket calculators, hearing aids, and similar compact portable electronics products....
s (because of the value and toxicity of their chemicals).






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Encyclopedia


Battery recycling is a recycling
Recycling

Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virg...
 activity that aims to reduce the number of batteries
Battery (electricity)

In electronics, a battery or voltaic cell is a combination of one or more electrochemical cell Galvanic cells which store chemical energy that can be converted into electric potential energy, creating electricity....
 being disposed as municipal solid waste
Municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste , also called urban solid waste, is a waste type that includes predominantly household waste with sometimes the addition of commercial wastes collected by a municipality within a given area....
. It is widely promoted by people concerned about contamination, particularly of soil contamination
Soil contamination

Soil contamination is caused by the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes...
 and water pollution
Water pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants that live in these water bodies....
, by the addition of heavy metals
Heavy metals

A heavy metal is a member of an ill-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties, which would mainly include the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides....
 and other toxic
Toxic waste

Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It usually is the product of industry or commerce, but comes also from residential use, agriculture, the military, medical facilities, radioactive sources, and light industry, such as dry cleaning establishments....
 chemicals from batteries.

Types of batteries

Most types of batteries can be recycled. However, some batteries are recycled more readily than others, such as lead-acid automotive batteries
Lead-acid battery

Lead-acid batteries, invented in 1859 by France physicist Gaston Plant?, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Despite having the second lowest energy-to-weight ratio and a correspondingly low energy-to-volume ratio, their ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells maintain a relatively large power-to-weight ratio....
 (nearly 90% are recycled) and button cell
Button cell

A watch battery, button cell, silver button cell, or coin cell is a small form-factor battery designed for use in wrist watches, pocket calculators, hearing aids, and similar compact portable electronics products....
s (because of the value and toxicity of their chemicals). Other types, such as alkaline
Alkaline battery

Alkaline batteries and alkaline cells are a type of disposable battery or Rechargeable alkaline battery battery dependent upon the reaction between zinc and manganese oxide ....
 and rechargeable
Rechargeable battery

File:Energizer reghargeble batteryIMG 0006.JPGA rechargeable battery, also known as a storage battery, is a group of two or more electrochemical cell....
, can also be recycled.

Lead-acid batteries

These batteries include but are not limited to: Car Batteries, Golf Cart Batteries, UPS Batteries, Industrial Fork-Lift Batteries, Motorcycle Batteries, and Commercial Batteries. These can be regular lead acid
Lead-acid battery

Lead-acid batteries, invented in 1859 by France physicist Gaston Plant?, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Despite having the second lowest energy-to-weight ratio and a correspondingly low energy-to-volume ratio, their ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells maintain a relatively large power-to-weight ratio....
, sealed lead acid, Gel Type, or absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries.

Silver Oxide Batteries

Used most frequently in watches, toys and some medical devices silver oxide batteries can become highly hazardous at the end of their useful life. After a period of use of approximately five years the batteries may begin to leak their contents which contains mercury
Mercury (element)

Mercury , also called quicksilver or hydrargyrum , is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery d-block metal, mercury is one of six elements that are liquid at or near room temperature and pressure....
 posing a serious health risk. The mercury will begin to corrode the inner shell of the battery. In most jurisdictions there exists legislation to regulate the appropriate handling and disposal of silver oxide batteries in order to minimise the risk to public health and the environment.

Battery options by location


Britain

Household batteries can be recycled in Britain at Dixons, Currys, The Link and PC World (all part of DSG International plc). All 750 shops have battery collection boxes. These are often obscured behind the counter or in the back of the customer service area and you may have to ask where it is.

In Wales, England and Scotland a very small number of Argos, Homebase, B&Q, and Tesco stores are taking batteries back in store.

A UK scheme allows household batteries that have been securely wrapped in a plastic bag and then inserted inside a Jiffy bag or a strong box to posted free of charge. There is a list of these Freepost addresses for Tesco, EveryReady, Energiser, Duracell, Sainsburys and other major producers and supermarkets at . And a UK Battery Recycling Guide for Business is available at.

United States

Battery recycling is the USA is explained in more detail at the .

Also in USA, recycle all kind of batteries as part of the industry recycling initiatives through the .

Europe


Other European countries do much better than Britain with battery recycling, with Sweden and Belgium leading the way.

See also

  • PowerGenix


External links

  • - CBC Marketplace
  • - Battery Recycling Information
  • - Battery Disposal Guide