And according to the EPA, Americans throw away more than 86,000 tons of disposable alkaline batteries each year — which if placed end-to-end “would circle the world at least six times.”
What can we do?
Using rechargeable batteries can help reduce the amount of batteries that are thrown away. Rechargeable batteries don’t last forever, but they can be recharged 500 to 1000 times. This means that each rechargeable battery can potentially save 499 disposable batteries from being thrown away!
In the IT Office, we buy a lot of batteries to help support the many devices on Stone Ridge’s campus – and we are committed to switching completely to rechargeable batteries this year.
We started the Battery Bar – a place for teachers and staff who need a charged-up battery to come by and grab one, and return used-up rechargeable batteries for charging and re-circulation. It’s also a spot for proper recycling of disposable batteries – it has a special bin where anyone can drop off dead alkaline batteries and the Facilities team will collect them to be properly recycled. To recycle dead alkaline batteries, please put tape on both ends to prevent spontaneous fires and put them in the orange and white containers.
This is our first Battery Bar, and if it goes well we hope to build more.
You can help us
keep batteries out
of the trash!
- Choose rechargeable batteries
- Charge them when needed
- Recycle disposable batteries properly
What happens to batteries when we don’t recycle?
Disposable batteries have chemicals in them that are toxic to humans and animals: Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, manganese dioxide. These can cause dry cell battery poisoning. This is why old batteries that are leaking dusty battery acid are toxic and dangerous.
In Montgomery County, many people throw dead batteries in the trash because there is no pickup service to help properly dispose of dead batteries. Batteries are always considered hazardous household waste because they have heavy metals and corrosive acids inside them that can leak out over time. But most batteries thrown in the trash in Montgomery County are not sealed in landfills – they are burned. In Montgomery County, 700,000 tons of trash are sent to incinerators to be burned each year, which is most of our non-recycled trash. Trash incineration is the second-biggest source of air pollution in Montgomery County. Burning batteries releases acidic fumes that are poisonous to humans and animals.
Reducing the number of batteries we throw away and making sure that batteries are recycled properly can help care for our common home here in Montgomery County.