How to recycle batteries

Not everyone wonders where the batteries that no longer serve or where to throw the batteries used and, therefore, discard them directly in the normal garbage containers. This fact is a big mistake since seriously affect the environment And they harm plant, animals and, of course, human beings, aspects that we will detail later to know the importance of recycling batteries.

Throw the batteries to normal garbage is not the solutionbut we must manage this waste properly. Luckily, today we have advanced a lot and have various ways of being able to get rid of them without being so great threat to the planet.

Now you will not be able to say that you do not know what to do with the batteries used, since here we bring you the answer so you can recycle them correctly.

Battery

The first step to recycle used batteries is to locate a pile collection point such as a clean point or point. These are places where a battery collection is carried out for later management and recycling. In this way, we already have two solutions to what to do with the batteries used so that they do not contaminate:

• The clean points: We can find them both in large cities and in some smaller villages.
• The containers: They can be found in very diverse places. In fact, in many urban nuclei, it is common to see them at the buse stops, since they are small containers that can be annexed to the bases of many urban furniture without being necessary to dedicate a large space.

Methods to recycle batteries

In general, it can be considered that all the processes that are carried out are destined to separate metals and the rest of the battery components and isolate them on each other. In this way, once pure metals are available, they can be reused in the manufacture of new batteries.

The methods used to separate metals will depend on the type of metal to which we are and the type of battery in question. In general, both physical and chemical methods can be used. Next, we will detail some of these methods to know how to recycle batteries:

• Break the battery in small pieces In closed spaces and controlled atmospheres, which also allows to recover the toxic gases that are released when they break.
• Convert waste bricks For environmental friendly constructions. This solution will not prevent its content from being contaminant, but will isolate these toxic elements, while being used to build solidly. If you want to know more about it, visit this other article about recycled waste bricks for the construction of ecological house.
• Heat the content From the battery once chopped to, precisely, release heavy metals in the form of steam and, later, solidify it again to reuse it. In this way, once all the original components have been separated, they can be reused safely in the manufacture of new batteries.

Other options not to contaminate batteries

Other options on how to prevent batteries from contaminating the environment are as follows:

• Use rechargeable batteries: Before button, alkaline and other types.

• Opt for renewable energies In your home: Buy devices that use less polluting energies or, better yet, clean energy, such as solar energy. Discover here more about renewable energies: advantages and disadvantages.

There are many people who still are not very clear why batteries must be discarded in a special way, but it is something that should be known in order to know the severity that leads to abandon these elements in nature.

Batteries destroy the environment because They contain harmful elements For this and, when breaking or decomposing, these elements release. According to the type of battery, we can find what they contain:

• Zinc dust
• Manganese dioxide
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Nickel

You can read more about the contamination due to heavy materials in the water in this other article that we recommend.

Soil, rivers and seas pollution

When a pile is abandoned in nature or in the urban environment, its housing is slowly deteriorating until, from the erosion of environmental phenomena, the inner content that these metals include is released. Next, these Toxic metals will spread In the middle through the water cycle, which leads to the subsequent contamination of both soils and rivers, aquifers and, finally, seas.

We leave you this other ecology article so that you have more information about soil pollution: causes, consequences and solutions.

Food poisoning

In the aforementioned environments, these heavy metals pass to vegetables and animals, causing diseases and, in the case of agriculture, livestock and fishing. In this way, they are introduced into the Human Being Chain. In fact, this is the reason why the big fish that then end at the table contain high amounts of mercury.

Human poisoning

By being able to ingest these types of materials, it must be taken into account that they can cause very serious diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, liver damage and conditions of the circulatory system or cancer, and, in the most serious cases, finally death.

Except in cases where poisoning is very accelerated or due to a specific accident, the most common is that these diseases occur slowly when contaminated food intake is performed over many years. However, it must be borne in mind that living organisms are not designed to eliminate these metals inside, so the accumulation is carried out gradually but irreversible.

In this way, it is a Environmental and Public Health Problem Very important, so it is essential that the population wonders what to do with the batteries used and that they do not end up degrading in natural or urban environments, but are properly recycled for the safety of all living beings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtmrb5vvikc

In the same way that we should not throw the batteries at normal trash, we should not do it with the batteries. Pilas and batteries are closely related when recycling. Therefore, if you are wondering What to do with used batteriesthen we detail the answer.

The batteries have the advantage that, in front of the batteries, they can be recharged, as with the rechargeable batteries. This makes its useful life greater, which prevents your recycling from having to be so repetitive. For this you can:

• Deposit in batteries: The batteries, by containing the same materials that make up the batteries, can be recycled in the same way.
• Take them to clean pointswhere they will be managed in the same way as the batteries for later recycling safely.

Another answer to the question: what is done with the batteries used is the brick. If you are thinking of building an ecological house you may be interested in knowing how to make waste bricks like these. To make cement bricks and batteries, more materials such as plastic bottles and sawdust are reused. You just have to follow these steps:

1. Fill plastic bottles with batteries: they have to be somewhat smaller than the size of the block you want to obtain to build.
2. Fill all holes with sawdust: So that there is no space in the bottle and this makes of absorbent material and close well with the lid.
3. Place the battery capsules: What we have done with plastic bottles in the center of the brick mold.
4. Fill the mold with cement: It can be free choice and you have to let it dry to be able to use it.

In this simple way, batteries are isolated preventing them from contaminating the environment as long as they remain encapsulated. In addition, remember that to build your own home it is recommended that you have the help of experts on the subject and do not do everything on your own, so you will avoid some mistakes that are usually made in these cases.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to recycle batterieswe recommend that you enter our recycling and waste management category.