| Without batteries, life in the 21st century | | | | to madness. |
| would come to a screeching halt. At times it | | | | |
| seems like the rotation of the Earth itself | | | | The disposal of batteries into landfills is |
| battery powered. But batteries generate power | | | | taking space that could be used for |
| with the aid of toxic heavy metals like | | | | biodegradable products. Landfills were not |
| mercury and lead. And hundred of millions, if | | | | meant to be dumping grounds for all the toxic |
| not billions, of batteries adding heavy | | | | refuse from which we want to separate |
| metals to the soil and groundwater every year | | | | themselves; and if they cannot degrade in an |
| do not a healthy future make. | | | | environmentally safe manner, they will add to |
| | | | the pollution problem, not help solve it. |
| The disposal of batteries is akin to the | | | | |
| disposal of any non-biodegradable | | | | The Current Situation |
| commodities, like disposable diapers, | | | | |
| Styrofoam, and PCP loaded insecticides. | | | | The irresponsible disposal of batteries in |
| Humankind has decided we can't live without | | | | the past, however, had finally led to some |
| them, but much to our chagrin, we have | | | | changes in the battery industry. Thanks to |
| finally earned that we can't live with them | | | | the ongoing efforts from economic and |
| for every much longer without paying some | | | | environmental experts, and some enlightened |
| very serious environmental consequences. | | | | minds within the battery industry, |
| | | | rechargeable batteries have been introduced |
| A market driven economy is dependent on | | | | to the market and are slowly increasing their |
| continuing demand if it is to survive, and | | | | market share. |
| disposable items are essential to continuing | | | | |
| demand. If everyone who ever bought a battery | | | | Battery manufacturers, however, are not about |
| for each of his or her appliances never | | | | to abandon traditional batteries, which are a |
| needed to buy another, battery makers would | | | | much higher profit item than the rechargeable |
| either have to keep inventing new essential | | | | ones. As recently as 2005, when US consumers |
| appliances, or hope that every person on | | | | spent more that $40,000,000,000 on |
| Earth reproduces tenfold. An expectation of | | | | traditional batteries, and the disposal of |
| obsolescence is built in to our approach to | | | | those batteries will have to be done |
| our possessions. Those which do not wear out | | | | properly. The battery industry, like every |
| we simply replace after a while to enjoy the | | | | other, exists to make money, and as much |
| novelty of their replacements. | | | | money as possible. If there is to be a |
| | | | solution to the disposal of batteries, it |
| Environmental Effects | | | | will not come by manufacturers phasing out |
| | | | their high profit throw way battery lines. |
| The disposal of batteries which have been | | | | |
| exhausted is a prime example of this | | | | It will have to come from educated, |
| throw-away mentality. Enough improper | | | | environmentally concerned consumers deciding |
| disposal of batteries over the past century | | | | to pay the extra money to buy rechargeable |
| has occurred that their toxic mercury is now | | | | batteries and chargers, or solar powered |
| in the food chain, affecting marine life to | | | | electronic devices, or at the very lest, |
| an unprecedented extent. Many of the fish | | | | extended life disposable batteries. With a |
| upon which poorer nations have depended for | | | | concerted effort, they can move enough money |
| their survival are no longer safe to eat. | | | | the traditional battery to the alternative |
| Mercury poisoning can lead to severe mental | | | | battery market, and the environment will be |
| and physical impairment in humans, and even | | | | the winner. |