The Negative Impacts of Single Use Disposable Batteries on the Environment

These days, almost everyone has at least one type of portable device that relies on batteries to keep it powered up. Cell phones, tablets, cameras, even kid’s toys. Many households and businesses have dozens and dozens of these little power packs working at all times. And when they run out of juice, we simply throw them away and insert fresh ones into our devices, and don’t give much thought to what happens once we’ve disposed of the used batteries.

In this article, we’ll look at some statistics related to the use and disposal of single use batteries and take a look at the different ways disposable batteries are causing harm to our environment.

Quick Facts

• Over 20 million batteries are produced and distributed annually worldwide
• 98% of used disposable batteries end up in landfills
• Batteries dumped in landfills release harmful chemicals into the air, water and soil

Toxic Chemical Waste

Have you ever wondered what’s inside a battery? Let’s take a look at some of the toxic, corrosive and hazardous chemicals that batteries are composed of:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Lithium

Wow – this is a frightening list of chemicals isn’t it? Not ingredients we’d want in our food or water. But it’s very possible that that’s where they’ll end up if we don’t properly dispose of used batteries.

Impacts on Agriculture

Left untended in landfills and other garbage disposal sites, batteries will break down and begin releasing these chemicals into the earth. This means that they could eventually end up in our water, our land, and the air that we breath.

This toxic waste can create a domino effect of serious and life-threatening problems. If our water contains toxic chemicals, livestock and other agriculture may suffer. This in turn leads to food shortage, water shortage and so on and so forth. Our air becomes polluted with these chemicals as well, increasing smog, which we already know is hazardous to ourselves and the environment.

Climate Change

As toxic chemicals are released into land, air and water, they contribute to an increase in the temperature of the earth’s surface. This is called the greenhouse effect. 

On a certain level, the greenhouse effect is necessary, as it helps warm the earth to temperatures that are conducive to the human population. However, as more toxic pollutants are introduced into our environment, they become trapped by the greenhouse effect, which leads to increased smog, extreme weather conditions, wildfires and more. This buildup is incredibly damaging to the earth’s atmosphere.

More on Smog

We’ve learned that the toxic chemicals released by disposable batteries can impact the earth’s atmosphere. When these pollutants are exposed to the sun, photochemical reactions will occur that will product additional toxins including gases, ozone and particulate matter. 

Particularly in large cities (where usage of disposable batteries is highest), this will create a deadly smog that we breath in every day. And again, the domino effect is that when it rains, all of these toxins will be re-deposited back into the earth, negatively impacting the earth’s ecosystems.  Yuck!

Polluted Water Supply

As disposable batteries break down, corrosive chemicals are released and can make their way to our water supplies. This includes groundwater, reservoirs, lakes, rivers and oceans. And while as humans, we are lucky enough to be able to treat our water so that it’s safe to consume, the same cannot always be said for animals and plant life.

The far-reaching impact of polluted water could lead to food shortages!

The Benefits of Using Rechargeable Batteries

Now that we’ve learned about the very real dangers of battery disposal, let’s talk about how rechargeable batteries can help us reduce the risks that accompany disposal, and help to keep our environment safer.

Conserving Resources

Rechargeable batteries can be used multiple times. Our Kee batteries charge rapidly (in two hours or less) and can be charged and used over 1,000 times!  If we all switch to using Kee rechargeable batteries, this will lead to fewer batteries needing to be manufactured worldwide, which will cut down on the resources that go into manufacturing, shipping, and disposing of used batteries.

Saving the Planet

As noted, since Kee batteries can be used hundreds and hundreds of times, the number of used batteries in landfills will greatly reduce the release of harmful chemicals and a pollutants into our environment. The risk of contamination of our land, air and water becomes less and less, leading to a greener, safer planet.

Performance of Kee Rechargeable Batteries

As single use disposable batteries go, today’s line up of products aren’t bad for holding a charge and powering devices for longer than they used to. But the performance of Kee rechargeable batteries simply cannot be beat.

Using a micro-USB charger, Kee rechargeable batteries can be fully charged in under two hours. Just plug them in the same way you would plug in your cell phone to let the charging begin. Our batteries can be recharged over 1,000 times. This makes our batteries superior – superior for the environment, for performance, and for reliability and ease of use.

Save Money

If it isn’t already obvious, Kee rechargeable batteries will save you money! Because they can be recharged and used over 1,000 times, you could potentially never have to buy batteries again, depending on how many devices you have, and how you use those devices. That’s a huge savings.

The next time you’re trying to think of an ingenious gift to give to a friend or family member, help them to experience the benefits of Kee rechargeable batteries. You’ll be helping to save the planet and save your friends and family the high costs of using single use disposable batteries.

Summary

Single use disposable batteries have served a purpose in our world, however with technology, we now have options that are so much better for the environment, in so many ways. 

Instead of introducing harmful pollutants into our environment, we can all do our part to ‘go green’ by using Kee Rechargeable Batteries.