Recycling batteries not only bring happiness to our Earth, but also to our future generations. Recycling batteries is the process wherein abandoned or used batteries, that might be viewed as waste and unsafe to the earth, are processed . There are numerous misunderstandings about what battery materials can and can’t be reused. These confusions only bring hindrances to the cost effectiveness and success of battery recycling projects running across the globe. Nevertheless, by imparting a little more knowledge to consumers, battery recycling might become an imperative and ecologically sound answer to battery waste management.
Following is some information about how different batteries are recycled in recycling plants:
a) Lead Acid Battery Recycling: Hammer mill is used to break down the battery into small parts, which are then set into a vat. In the vat the lead and other heavy materials tumble down and the plastic particles float because of their usual weight/density properties. Then both top and bottom fluids are separated and sent to separate recycling chambers for further processing.
b) Alkaline/Zinc Carb on/Zinc Air Batteries: All these types of batteries need specific temperature for their successful mechanical partition process, where the battery parts are broken down into 3 final products: a) Zinc & Manganese Concentrate, b) Paper & Plastic and c) Steel. Finally, all these separate products are sent to their respective commercial centers for reuse in new items.
c) Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries and Lithium Ion Batteries: Preceding the purifying process, metal parts are separated from their plastic counterparts. The metals are then recycled by means of a HTMR (High-Temperature Metal Reclamation) method, wherein heavy metals (i.e. nickel, iron, manganese, and chromium) are sent for a hot metal bath. Finally, the separated metals and plastics are sent for reuse in new products.
All these types of batteries can easily be fully recycled (100%).
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