Laptop, walkman, toys, cell phone, calculator—these are just some of the things that need batteries to function in our daily lives. The U.S. EPA estimates that more than 350 million rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the United States. Batteries are a unique product comprised of heavy metals and other elements that make things "portable". Some of these toxic heavy metals include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid. It is these elements that can threaten our environment if not properly discarded.

Batteries may produce the following potential problems or hazards:

Pollute the lakes and streams as the metals vaporize into the air when burned.
Contribute to heavy metals that potentially may leach from solid waste landfills.
Expose the environment and water to lead and acid.
Contain strong corrosive acids.
May cause burns or danger to eyes and skin.

In 1996, the Battery Act was signed into law to address two fundamental issues according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency: to phase out the use of mercury in batteries and to provide collection methods and recycling/proper disposal of batteries. Batteries that end up in landfills and incinerators eventually leak into the environment and end up in the food chain, causing serious health risks to humans and animals.

Not all batteries are the same and they require specific instructions to ensure each type of battery is properly discarded or recycled. The batteries consumers are more likely to use are household, nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), button cell, automotive and non-automotive lead-based batteries. Read More