Many of the electronic appliances and gadgets that we use every day are powered by batteries. Batteries are made from many different materials, including lead, nickel, acid, lithium and alkaline. Even after the removal of mercury from most consumer batteries in the U.S, many of the substances inside a battery are toxic to some extent. Some are very toxic.
While each battery may seem too small to cause much harm, batteries are manufactured and used in such large quantities globally that not disposing of them properly creates a serious environmental hazard.
When batteries are not properly disposed of, and this is the case whenever we simply toss them in the trash, the casing can disintegrate over time, allowing the toxic chemicals inside the battery to leach into the surrounding environment, contaminating the soil and groundwater.
Recycling batteries involves breaking the casing and reusing the inside. Batteries that can’t be recycled still need special treatment to make sure they don’t contaminate the environment.
Environmentally Friendly Use of Batteries
Currently there are three main options for using batteries responsibly:
1. Using batteries less frequently. For example, if a gadget can be powered by electricity or by batteries, it’s better to use electricity whenever possible.
2. Choosing recyclable batteries over non-recyclable batteries.
3. Using rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries are of course preferable to regular batteries, but they are toxic too, and they too need to be replaced eventually.
Bio Batteries
A recent, interesting development is the invention of bio batteries. Bio batteries are powered by organic materials, usually blood (using blood sugars) or simply sugar. They are non-toxic and biodegradable. Scientists and researchers have been working on bio battery projects since the early 2000s, and in 2007, electronics manufacturer Sony announced that it had also created a battery that derives energy from sugar.
We do expect it to be a while before bio batteries are mass manufactured and fully replace traditional batteries. But bio-battery technology is here to stay, and demand by insistent, educated consumers who insist on green living could be just the thing that will finally turn this technology from something that is confined to the lab into an everyday consumer product.
Photo by moria
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