Battery Recycling

Commonly known as the “Household Battery”, it is the most versatile and widely used battery today. According to the US EPA, nearly three billion house-hold batteries are purchased in the United States each year. This amount may be equated to approximately 10 batteries per each individual every year. ¹

The alkaline battery is generally used to provide power to everyday electronic devices. This battery also has several distinct advantages that place it in to a unique category than other batteries. For instance, the alkaline battery is able to perform under light-duty demands for long periods of time. It is resistant to variations in temperature, and it has a long shelf-life. When needed, you may store the battery for two years and find that it will maintain up to 90% of its original stored electrical capacity.

The alkaline battery is grouped by five different sizes and power classifications. In order from small to large sizes, the AAA, AA, C, D, and 9-Volt are universally known as belonging to the Alkaline Battery Family. The bigger size cylindrical units, C and D, are designed to generate more power (electrical current) based on a greater demand over a duration of use. The converse applies to AAA and AA cylindrical batteries, supplying power (electrical current) for a light duty demand. The only exception to this rule is the 9-Volt Rectangular-Battery, which is designed to supply more power than the D-Cell at any one time.

Alkaline batteries are available in two classes, standard and premium. Standard alkaline batteries are generally used in low-demand applications, such as remote controls and smoke alarms. The premium version is best suited for high-demand requirements, such as flash-lights, digital cameras, and commercial duty.

¹ Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention, October 2010, Household Batteries.

Making good and efficient use of batteries is one of the best ways to prevent a negative impact on health and the environment. Here are a few tips that will help you manage batteries better:

• Purchase only what you need.
• Consider Rechargeable Batteries in an application that has high-demand, i.e., portable-power tools, cameras, and recording devices.
• If you purchase extra household batteries for future use, or an emergency, then take advantage of the best product expiration date available.
• Store unused batteries in a cool place.
• Do not try to recharge the household battery, it may overheat and damage the device.
• Only a few companies in the United States will accept Household Batteries for recycling. When needed, give BRME a call to discuss your recycling need.

Learn more about battery recycling call 678-721-0022.

Without batteries the convenience of text-messaging would be impossible. Batteries provide energy for countless products and devices, supplying us with the luxuries we enjoy. Every computer, cell phone, portable music player, laptop, radio, automobile and airplane is either wholly or partially powered by batteries. Many people do not realize how important batteries are until their batteries die.

Battery Recycling Made Easy® (BRME) addresses the issue that most modern batteries contain heavy metals and chemicals that are detrimental to the environment. Because of their unique constituents, batteries cannot be simply discarded like typical trash. BRME notes that the chemicals and heavy metals in discarded batteries will eventually contaminate landfills and seep into our groundwater. The best way to avoid this environmental dilemma is to have spent batteries recycled using services like BRME.

The US Government has clearly recognized the importance of battery recycling and the ecological implications of widespread battery usage. Batteries that contain materials such as cadmium, lead, mercury that are not recycled are designated as Hazardous Waste by the US EPA under its Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). As a result of public outcry demanding favorable regulations that support recycling, the EPA finally adopted the “Universal Waste Rule (UW)” in 1995, an important regulatory measure that met the public’s demand. Under these new UW Regulations, batteries designated for recycling would be handled as Universal Waste (no longer Hazardous Waste) which diverts material away from landfills to the battery recycler. John Patterson of BRME has been recycling batteries professionally prior to the inception of the UW Rule and has seen it increase the amount of batteries collected for recycling.

Beyond creating peace of mind for business owners, BRME’s battery recycling program is looking out for the environment and helping to secure a greener future for the coming generations.