Behind the scenes: You might not think that the little batteries you use in your flashlights, radios or cameras could [...]]]> Did you know?  We use 2 billion disposable batteries every year, enough to run close to a billion toys!  Yikes!  As fast as kids use them, that’s a lot of power and money out of the pocket!

Behind the scenes: You might not think that the little batteries you use in your flashlights, radios or cameras could have any effect on the environment, but household batteries contain heavy metals!  The most common is mercury, a highly toxic substance that has become a major source of contamination at some hazardous waste dumps.  Another damaging source is cadmium. 

Those batteries you are taking out with the garbage end up in the landfill, where they corrode and break apart, releasing mercury or cadmium into the soil.  Batteries that are incinerated with garbage release dangerous mercury or cadmium into the air.

The Danger:

• Long exposure to mercury can not only make people extremely sick, but can also affect behavior.  In the 1600′s hatmakers who used mercury to treat felt and fur began acting strangely.  Since no one knew tht the batters were showing effects of mercury poisoning, it was assumed they were just crazy.  Hence the expression, “mad as a hatter.” 
• Nearly 50% of the mercury and 25% of the cadmium used in the US goes into batteries.
• Almost 75% of all batteries used in the US are the alkaline type, which are 1% mercury.
• The average annual use of mercury in batteries exceeds the federal limits on mercury allowed in garbage by 4 times.

Simple Solutions:

1. Use rechargeable batteries.  They do contain cadmium, they last much longer than alkaline batteries and therefore contribute a little less to our hazardous waste problem.
2. Recycle alkaline batteries.  Not widely available, the technology to extract mercury and other metals from batteries for re-use does exist.  Support it by recycling.

Other Info:  About 40% of all battery sales are made during the Christmas Season.  See if you can reduce that percentage!  Find a battery recycling location here