Summer Safety – Batteries

Batteries are an essential part of our modern lives. But when it comes to disposing of used batteries a common mistake is disposing of them in household bins. While this might seem like a convenient option, it is harmful to the environment and can even pose a safety risk. 

Lithium-ion batteries are essential components in many modern devices and systems including Lawn and Garden Equipment, Cordless Power Tools, Rechargeable Flashlights as well as Smartphones and Mobile Device Chargers due to their efficiency, compact size, and ability to provide reliable power for extended periods.

Recycling batteries is vital for protecting the environment, conserving resources, ensuring safety, and supporting sustainable technological advancements. It represents a responsible approach to managing the end-of-life stage of these batteries and contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key reasons why you should not put batteries in your bin.

1. Environmental Protection & Resource Conservation

Many batteries can actually be recycled, which is a much more sustainable option than disposing of them in the bin.

• Reducing Toxic Waste: Batteries contain hazardous materials such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which can leach into soil and water if not properly disposed of, leading to environmental contamination. 

• Recycling allows these materials to be recovered and reused, reducing the need for mining new raw materials. It also helps conserve finite natural resources and supports the sustainable use of materials, ensuring that valuable resources are available for future generations.

• Preventing Pollution: Proper recycling of batteries helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and prevents the release of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the environment, which can harm ecosystems and human health.

2. Energy Savings

• Lower Energy Consumption: Recycling batteries requires less energy compared to extracting and processing virgin materials. This reduction in energy use helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates climate change.

3. Safety and Health

• Reducing Fire Risks: Batteries can also be a fire hazard when disposed of improperly. Improperly disposed batteries can pose fire hazards in waste management facilities. When batteries are crushed or punctured, they can short-circuit and create a spark that can ignite other materials in the bin. Recycling helps mitigate these risks by ensuring safe handling and processing.

• Protecting Human Health: Proper recycling prevents the release of toxic fumes into the air and that can cause harm to nearby communities.

So, what should you do instead of putting batteries in your bin? The best option is to dispose of them at your local battery collection point, civic amenity, or WEEE Ireland point. It’s also a good idea to keep batteries and objects with batteries inside separated from your other waste and to store them in a cool, dry place until you can recycle them. By doing so, you’ll be helping to protect the environment and ensure a more sustainable future for generations to come.