The Importance of Recycling Batteries

The Importance of Recycling Batteries

I never knew the importance of recycling batteries. Batteries include mercury, lead, cadmium and nickel which react with chemical electrolytes to produce power. Furthermore, they can  cause dangerous health and environmental consequencess because of the heavy metals the batteries contain. Also, when batteries burn completely they release heavy metals in the air. Therefore, these metals will enter the environment in the ash created during they were completely burnt. It is a fact that batteries that end up in a landfill can make chemicals and hevy metals into soil, groundwater, lakes and streams. Which would result into contaminating our soil and water.

Batteries can be divided into two broad categories: dry-cell and wet-cell batteries.The dry-cell type is used in most consumer electronics, and includes alkaline and carbon zinc batteries and lithium batteries.As for wet-cell batteries are typically found in cars, boats and motorcycles.However,both types of batteries can be recycled.The wet-cell batteries we use in our cars are the easiest to recycle and most retailers of car batteries are also authorized collection and recycling centers for them. On the other hand,a variety of places where dry-cell batteries can be recycled, including municipal sites and for-profit entities such as retailers and sanitation companies.

After doing a thorough study, I have figured out that Portland's Metro Recycling website provides extensive information about where you can recycle old household batteries around downtown Portland.

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24197

http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/importance-recycling-batteries-2966.html