Energizer, Duracell and other alkaline batteries, pose no serious hazard to the environment, while ending up in landfills, as compared to their precursors. The earlier versions used to come laden with toxins like mercury. But the modern ones are supposed to contain much lesser trace of mercury and are thereby suggested by almost every municipal authority to dump in trash bins, without fearing for environmental hazards. Is this good for the environment?
Views vary. Those concerned about the Green Earth we live in, and feel indebted to the Mother Nature, opine differently. The urge to recycle these batteries, because of their minor amount of mercury as well as other toxins, is also felt by some regulatory authorities as well, apart from the ecologist. Thus, under the household waste scheme for hazardous materials, many municipalities are accepting such used batteries for recycling as new battery components.
You can also find out other mail order providers near you for recycling your used batteries. You may visit the Earth911.org site to go through the nationwide data.
Batteries prior to 1997 has a high chance of being loaded with mercury and other toxins. These batteries just can not be tossed into trash bins, due to their chances of having ten times more mercury than newer ones.
Meanwhile, the rechargeable batteries, as used in modern day gizmos as MP3 players, laptops and cell phones contain heavy metal toxins. If these batteries are discarded into the landfills which could be burnt and destroyed, the resultant fumes would be highly detrimental to our environment. Fortunately, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) is there to take back such disposed of rechargeable batteries towards recycling. Being a responsible citizen, one should try and restrict to buying electronic items with RBRC logo only. RBRC evens guides every individual to locate the right place for discarding old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries, through either its hotline number 1-800-8BATTERY or alternately through online support, rbrc.org. Through a thermal revival expertise, RBRC retrieves cobalt, iron, cadmium, nickel and lead, to reuse in the manufacture of new battery.
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