Household Batteries
About three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S.. That’s about 32 per family or ten batteries per person. Batteries contain heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium and lithium – all can be hazardous and disposal of batteries requires precaution.
Batteries are used for remote control units, radios, stereos, cell phones and many other products we use everyday. Batteries contain strong corrosive acids and can damage eyes and skin.
In landfills, heavy metals can leach slowly into soil, groundwater or surface water. Dry cell batteries contribute about 88 percent of the total mercury and 50 percent of the cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream. In the past, batteries accounted for nearly half of the mercury used in the United States and over half of the mercury and cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream. When burned, some heavy metals such as mercury, may vaporize and escape into the air and pollute lakes and streams causing fish to be unsafe to eat. When batteries are incinerated, toxic heavy metals such as cadmium and lead may end up in the ash.
Take care to properly dispose of your household batteries. Your local jeweler, pharmacy or battery retailer may
accept button batteries for recycling. Or check with your local solid waste management district for household battery
recycling outlets. You can help protect your environment with safe disposal of household batteries.