Ever wonder what to do with your old batteries? You are not alone. According to Call2Recyle, nearly 3 out of 10 Americans are not sure how to dispose of their old batteries. Many either throw them in the trash or end up putting them in the recycling container. Both these methods are incorrect, and people along with property can be at serious risk.Â
Why is proper battery recycling important?
It’s not just cell phone and laptop batteries that need special handling. Batteries – including tiny ones in greeting cards, small electronic toys, and vapes – can spark and explode, causing fires in a truck or at a materials recovery facility.Â
These fires are a hazard for drivers and workers at recycling facilities. Batteries can also leak harmful heavy metals and other toxic, corrosive materials that end up in our local soils, groundwater, and streams.Â