Power to Recycling!
The importance of battery recycling
Batteries are one of the only everyday consumer products with federal laws controlling their disposal. The EPA designates batteries as a hazardous waste product. Throwing lead batteries in the trash is illegal in 30 U.S. states and many states also have laws surrounding the disposal of cell phone and rechargeable batteries. So what's the big deal about batteries? Why are they any more hazardous than other waste? The answer has to do with heavy metals.
All batteries contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc, manganese, and lithium which react with electrolytes to generate power. Batteries are not dangerous when we use them because they are well-sealed with plastic, but this plastic degrades after disposal allowing heavy metals to enter the environment. Excessive exposure to heavy metals can damage mental and central nervous function, blood composition, and vital organs such as lungs, kidneys, and liver. When batteries are thrown in the trash and sent to landfills or incinerators, these heavy metals may contaminate the soil or pollute the air and water, posing a threat to human health.
The Corporation for Battery Recycling, funded by Duracell, Energizer, and Panasonic, aims to create a national battery recycling program with an eventual goal of zero waste from batteries. Call2Recycle, a non-profit funded by various battery and electronics manufacturers, was established in 1996 to help consumers recycle rechargeable batteries. The program has since diverted over 70 million pounds of disposable batteries from landfill. The auto industry also promotes battery recycling and according to the EPA, 96 percent of all lead-acid car batteries are recycled. Nearly all car dealerships selling lead-acid batteries also collect used batteries for recycling. The EPA says a typical lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic!
Here at U of M, batteries are collected through the Hazardous Materials Management Program (HMM) at OSEH and sent off campus to be recycled. All types of batteries are accepted by HMM. The program manages all aspects of battery use at U of M to ensure that the University is in compliance with State and Federal regulations. To request a battery collection bucket, call OSEH at 763-4568. Students in Residence Halls can ask the front desk for the location of their building's collection container. This information and more can also be found on our website: http://www.recycle.umich.edu/grounds/recycle/materials/batteries.php
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