When we have used up an old battery, we often put it aside with the best intentions in the world. We promise ourselves that we will recycle it properly, but for some or other reason this does not happen. This is why so many of us have used batteries lying around our homes. Eventually we have to ask ourselves, what is the best solution for used batteries?
The Safest Solution for Used Batteries
Used batteries still have a surprising amount of energy left in them. But we can’t use this electric power, because the voltage has dropped too low. This means we could still short-circuit the terminals with a metal conductor. This is a bad idea, especially if the battery is lithium-ion.
Any conductor could complete a short-circuit that way. It’s a long shot, but several battery cases could do the trick. The only safe workaround is to insulate the battery terminals. This is one of the keys to the best solution for used batteries.
Here’s a smart way to treat spent batteries so they stay out of trouble:
- Don’t allow old batteries to bump together. Keep them separate.
- Stick adhesive tape over the terminals, so they can’t short circuit.
- Hand used batteries in for recycling. Don’t let them pile up in corners.
A Solution for Disposing Used Batteries
There are ample recycling points in most Canadian towns and cities, and worldwide. If we look for them, we should find them at official recovery points and in large stores.
The challenge is to increase the number of people who use these facilities. If they paid refundable deposits on batteries they would probably insist on returning them, but that’s unfortunately not practical.
The best solution for used batteries is to recycle them, not for the money, but for the contribution this makes to our environment. Every battery we return ensures someone can reuse their materials. Let’s do that, because this is the right thing to do!
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