We can only talk about a truly green economy when all our energy is renewable. This includes the energy source, the equipment to harvest and distribute it, and the batteries where we store it. Anything less than that is merely playing with words. Sad to say, ongoing problems with recycling batteries are standing in our way
Virginia Beach Facing Ongoing Problems with Recycling
Virginia Beach on the south-eastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia posted an ongoing problem early November 2019. It again asked its residents not to put hearing aid and watch batteries in the trash. That’s because they contain either mercury or lithium, and both these materials are harmful to health.
Mercury is a toxic substance that poisons humans and animals, and can cause body systems to fail. Whereas lithium catches fire when open to air, for example when a battery casing breaks open. Virginia Beach once again asks its residents to help avoid these ongoing problems with recycling operations. It wants the spent batteries handed in at battery collection centers, not hidden in trash.
Meanwhile Hennepin County in Minnesota Throws in the Towel
Hennepin County on the Mississippi River announced it ceased most battery recycling on October 30, 2019. This includes accepting cells at city and county buildings, libraries, schools, and community centers. In this case, the cause is vape pen and e-cigarette lithium battery fires causing ongoing problems with its recycling programs.
Moreover, many vape pens have push-button activators that turn up the heat when very lightly pressed, the announcement adds. “The combination of devices that heat up when activated, and rechargeable batteries that are flammable is dangerous,” it insists. However, residents may still put safer alkaline batteries in the trash.
This is a sad setback for recycling in both these fine cities. We understand they can’t take a chance with safety, but we can’t take a chance with climate change either. We appeal to vapers and e-cigarette smokers to hand in their spent devices at official drop-off centers in future.
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