When Batteries Die, Do They Go to Heaven?

According to the Everyday-Green web site, “each year Americans throw away more than three billion batteries. That's about 180,000 tons of batteries. More than 86,000 tons of these are single use alkaline batteries…[a]bout 14,000 tons of rechargeable batteries are thrown away in the United States.”

Unlike most of the trash that winds up in a landfill, batteries are hazardous waste. They contain a number of heavy metals, such as mercury, nickel, cadmium, and lead, which can pose significant health risks. Batteries also contain corrosive materials.

This unit will address the question of what waste is by examining the materials in the batteries we “throw away” and will consider alternatives to disposal in a landfill.