Why batteries shouldn't be thrown in the trash

What happens if you throw a battery in the trash?

Batteries and accumulators, depending on the type, contain elements such as lead, nickel, cadmium, lithium and, in rare cases, mercury. Cadmium is one of the most toxic elements for humans, negatively affecting the functioning of the renal system, bone tissue and liver. It is a carcinogen and can provoke the onset of cancer. Lead and mercury have an equally detrimental effect on the kidneys, liver, human bone tissue, as well as on the nervous system.

As long as the battery serves us faithfully, there is no need to worry. The main thing is to follow the operating rules. It becomes a delayed-action weapon when it ends up in a junkyard.

According to Greenpeace, about 15 million batteries end up in landfills in Moscow alone every year, and the radius of environmental pollution is equal to one square meter for each. When a battery or accumulator ends up in a landfill, in the process of corrosion and destruction of the case, toxic substances penetrate directly into the soil and groundwater, and after the incineration plant they reach the atmosphere.

What happens next is obvious. Having spread in soil, water and air, toxic substances cause irreparable damage to all life on the planet. They slow down the growth of plants, enter the organisms of animals and, of course, humans - along with water, food of animal and plant origin, and even from the air we breathe.

Batteries are different. Does it matter?

It is true, there are different. Let's figure out what is meant by a battery. The word itself can be used in everyday life, but you will not find it in purely technical literature. It is correct to call a battery a battery or a rechargeable battery depending on its type.

Disposable batteries:

alkaline (alkaline);
salt (zinc-carbon);
lithium (lithium);
oxide-silver (oxygen-silver);
zinc-air.

These include the familiar to us finger and little finger batteries, which are used in a television remote control, flashlight or wall clock, as well as small round "pills", most often purchased for wristwatches. Zinc air batteries are designed for hearing aids.

Rechargeable batteries (batteries):

nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd);
nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH);
nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn);
lithium ion (Li-Ion);
lead acid (Pb).

Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, and Ni-Zn batteries are used in many wireless electrical appliances such as flashlights, digital cameras, radios, and telephones. You will find lithium ion batteries in mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other wireless devices. Lead-acid batteries are used in cars and other vehicles as well as an emergency source of electricity.

Batteries containing mercury are banned in almost every country in the world and are virtually non-existent, so you are most likely to see a “0% mercury” or “No mercury” mark on any battery or accumulator package. The same applies to the content of cadmium: its absence will be notified by a similar mark "0% cadmium".

Of course, there are much more batteries, they all differ in composition and have different areas of application, but they have one thing in common - the icon with a crossed-out container applied to the packaging or outer shell.

hand over the batteries: do not throw in the trash can

Any batteries and accumulators marked with this symbol must not be thrown away, but must be returned for recycling.

It's clear. Where can I dispose of used batteries and accumulators?

To find out, you can use the addresses of the collection points for used batteries and accumulators. It is enough to choose your city and the type of garbage that you want to hand over for disposal or recycling.

Many supermarkets and hypermarkets have containers for collecting used batteries, a list of which is also possible. Online maps are periodically updated, so just in case, check the information by calling a specific reception point.

What if there are no reception points in my city?

This is likely. But he who seeks will always find. If you are really passionate about helping the environment, then be prepared to face some challenges.

Look for community-based environmental organizations in your city or become a member of the initiative to equip your city with collection points for used batteries. Perhaps you will find like-minded people.
Collect used batteries and take them to collection points in neighboring cities when you go on a business trip or vacation. You can hardly put on pounds, so the task is not so impossible.
Transfer batteries or accumulators through relatives or friends who live in other cities.
Try to cut back on purchases of disposable batteries by opting for rechargeable batteries.

Do not think that nothing will come from one discarded battery. The scale of landfills around the world makes us think about what kind of air we breathe, what water we drink and what food we eat. If you don't start taking care of it now, the situation could become irreversible.