The Hidden Dangers of Discarding Batteries Improperly and How to Recycle Them Safely

Concerned about your health? Properly recycling batteries is essential to protect yourself and the environment.

What Happens When You Throw Batteries in the Trash?

Batteries and accumulators contain hazardous substances such as lead, nickel, cadmium, lithium, and occasionally mercury. Cadmium is highly toxic, adversely affecting kidney function, bone health, and liver, while also being a carcinogen that can trigger cancer. Lead and mercury similarly damage kidneys, liver, bones, and the nervous system.

While batteries serve us well, improper disposal turns them into ticking environmental time bombs. According to Greenpeace, around 15 million batteries end up in Moscow’s landfills annually, contaminating roughly one square meter of soil per battery. As batteries corrode, toxic chemicals seep into soil and groundwater, eventually releasing pollutants into the atmosphere through waste incineration.

These toxins spread through soil, water bodies, and air, harming all living organisms. They slow plant growth and enter the food chain, affecting animals and humans through contaminated water, food, and air.

Different Types of Batteries: Why It Matters

The term "battery" is often used casually, but technically, it refers to either a primary (single-use) cell or a rechargeable accumulator.

Common single-use batteries include:

• Alkaline
• Zinc-carbon
• Lithium
• Silver-oxide
• Zinc-air (used in hearing aids)

These power devices like TV remotes, flashlights, wall clocks, and wristwatches.

Rechargeable batteries include:

• Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd)
• Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH)
• Nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn)
• Lithium-ion (Li-Ion)
• Lead-acid

Rechargeables power wireless electronics such as cameras, phones, laptops, and vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are common in cars and emergency power supplies.

Mercury-containing batteries are banned in most countries and rarely found today. Packaging typically indicates "0% mercury" or "No mercury," with similar labels for cadmium-free batteries.

All batteries and accumulators display a crossed-out trash bin symbol, indicating they should never be discarded with regular waste but recycled properly.

Where Can You Recycle Used Batteries?

Use interactive online maps to locate nearby battery recycling points by entering your city and waste type. Many supermarkets and hypermarkets offer collection containers for used batteries.

Since recycling locations may change, always confirm details by contacting the facility directly.

No Recycling Centers Nearby? Here’s What You Can Do

• Connect with local environmental groups or initiate community projects to establish battery collection points.
• Collect used batteries and bring them to recycling centers in neighboring cities during trips.
• Ask friends or relatives living elsewhere to help recycle batteries.
• Reduce single-use battery purchases by opting for rechargeable alternatives.

Never underestimate the impact of a single battery thrown away carelessly. The global scale of landfill contamination affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume. Taking action now is crucial to prevent irreversible damage.

Do you recycle your batteries and accumulators responsibly?

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