Reuse Your Disposable Batteries

If there has been a buzzword over the past few years then this is it. No, not Global warming (that’s two) but recycling. Whether it’s crushing our cans or ditching our drinks bottles, you can guarantee there’s a bin for it. But what about the more awkward, potentially toxic items? It is estimated that the average household uses 21 batteries a year. Considering the sheer volume of gadgets, gizmos and remote controls that fill these four walls, that may not sound a lot, but the UK alone is said to annually generate some 30,000 tonnes of waste batteries, with less than 1,000 tonnes being recycled. Considering the chemical composition of the remainder lining our landfill, the implications of incorrect disposal results in a potentially charged environmental issue. Inevitably the decomposition of hazardous metals (such as lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc, and lithium) results in contamination of our soil, air, and water, and more worryingly, our food chain.

So how to combat this problem? As always, prevention is the best cure, and that comes in the form of renewable energy. I’m not talking wind up radios, or wind powered alarm clocks, but the rechargeable battery is certainly no new technology (and noticeably more expensive than its disposable counterpart). New fangled gadgets like this battery wizard claim to have found the best of both worlds, in the ability to safely recharge even disposable batteries, up to ten times. Fewer batteries bought, fewer batteries disposed of. No explosions.
Unfortunately however, all good batteries must come to an end, but what then for safe disposal of this humble household object? Don’t panic, there is a battery powered light at the end of the tunnel. Companies like the good people at BatteryBack have set up the first free national battery recovery scheme for all types over batteries, with over 2000 collection points nationwide. Guilt free battery use, meaning that come that power cut, you won’t be left in the dark.
So put those candles away; the battery is back. Either that, or solar powered torch anyone?