Rechargeable Battery Recycling

To reduce the amount of waste, start with pollution prevention. Starting with pollution prevention leads to less or no leftover waste that could potentially become hazardous wastes. The use of rechargeable batteries results in a longer life span and use fewer batteries. However, rechargeable batteries still do contain heavy metals such as nickel-cadmium. When disposing of rechargeable batteries, recycle them if possible. 

TITLE I-RECHARGEABLE BATTERY RECYCLING ACT SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act". 

Nickel-cadmium batteries are rechargeable because the nickel and cadmium hydroxides products adhere tightly to the electrodes. More than 1.5 billion Ni-Cd batteries are produced every year. These batteries are not without drawbacks, however. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that adds weight to the battery. Moreover, even rechargeable batteries degrade eventually and must be recycled or disposed of in a benign way. 

Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries are being researched. Alternatives such as cadmium-free nickel and nickel hydride systems are also being researched, but nickel-cadmium batteries are unlikely to be totally replaced. Nickel-cadmium batteries can be reprocessed to reclaim the nickel. However, currently, approximately 80% of all nickel-cadmium batteries are permanently sealed in appliances. Changing regulations may result in easier access to these nickel-cadmium batteries for recycling. 

In the United States, Federal and State initiatives are assisting the businesses and consumers in managing, reusing, recycling, and disposal of household batteries. These include the Universal Waste Rule and the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act. 

Iliev I., Kaisheva A., Stoynov Z. Pauling H.J, Mechanically rechargeable Zinc-air cells, Proceedings of the 3th International Battery Recycling Congress, July 2 - 4, 1997, Noordwijk Aan Zee, the Netherlands. 

Kaisheva A., Iliev I., Milusheva J. Mechanically rechargeable magnesium-air cells with non-aggressive electrolyte. International Congress for Battery Recycling, July 3-5, 2002, Vienna, Austria. 

Recycling of certain household waste, such as televisions, computers, and rechargeable batteries, is desirable to control toxic pollution. Televisions are a significant source of lead that can leach into groundwater from dump sites. 

Recycling (or reuse) refers to the use (or reuse) of materials that would otherwise be disposed of or treated as a waste product. A good example is a rechargeable battery. Wastes that cannot be directly reused may often be recovered on-site through methods such as distillation. When on-site recovery or reuse is not feasible due to quality specifications or the inability to perform recovery on-site, off-site recovery at a permitted commercial recovery facility is often a possibility. Such management techniques are considered secondary to source reduction and should only be used when pollution cannot be prevented. 

Rechargeable batteries from power tools, telephones, and most other devices can be recycled. Nonrecyclable batteries often contain mercury or other toxic metals that are harmful to the environment, but in the early twenty-first century, most were still discarded in landfills. 

Total life cycle analyses may be utilized to establish the relative environmental and human health impacts of battery systems over their entire lifetime, from the production of the raw materials to the ultimate disposal of the spent battery. The three most important factors determining the total life cycle impact appear to be battery composition, battery performance, and the degree to which spent batteries are recycled after their useful lifetime. This assessment examines both rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, and includes lead acid, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, carbon zinc and alkaline manganese batteries. 

Fujimoto 1999, Collection and Recycling Activities for Portable Rechargeable Batteries in Japan, Proceedings of the 5 International Battery Recycling Congress, Deauville, France, September 27-29,1999. 

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