When we want to get rid of stuff that we no longer need, our first thought might be to just throw it away. Even something as common as batteries often end up in the trash, which is not where they belong.
Along with everything else that ends up in a landfill, batteries need to break down and decompose. As they do so, however, they release harmful chemicals that end up in the soil. On aver age, it takes about 100 years for a battery to decompose in a landfill.
The following hazardous chemicals are found within batteries:
This means that something as tiny as a AAA battery can contribute to global warming. In addition to climate change, batteries that are simply thrown away can pollute your local water supply.
Over the course of a century, that’s a lot of harmful chemicals polluting our natural resources.
Not only can that affect you and your family's health, but it can also kill local plants and animals. This also means harming fish, which you could end up eating.
Another way to go green is by using rechargeable batteries. While you may not be able to use them for life, the majority of them can be recharged up to 1,000 times. That alone can have a major impact on the environment.
In addition to simply using them less, another option is to recycle batteries. You’ll need to do an internet search to find your nearest battery recycling center, since these can’t just be thrown into the recycling bin.