Batteries

Batteries come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used to power some of our most basic everyday items.

We use tiny batteries to power wrist watches, TV remotes, and smoke detectors. High-tech items such as your cell phone, laptop, and other mobile devices utilize specially designed batteries that can be recharged for regular use.

There are also bigger batteries that power things like your car or lawnmower.

Batteries are just about everywhere!

And what do most of them have in common? Many batteries contain hazardous metals and other elements that we all must work to keep out of the environment. That means we should be recycling batteries rather than throwing them away.

That’s what we’re all about here at Newtech Recycling: taking your old electronics off your hands and disposing of them in safe, responsible ways. Learn more below about the dangers of batteries and what we do to help.

What Are the Common Types of Batteries?

There are three main types of batteries that we use in our everyday lives. These common types of batteries are alkaline, NiMH, and lithium-ion batteries.

• Alkaline batteries have zinc at the negative electrode and manganese dioxide at the positive electrode. As the substances are consumed, the battery becomes discharged. Alkaline batteries cannot be safely recharged so they must be disposed of after a single use.
• Nickel metal hydride batteries have an intermetallic compound that includes nickel at the negative electrode and nickel at the positive electrode. With these batteries, the compound makeup isn’t consumed. These batteries can be recharged and used again.
• Lithium-ion batteries are the newest of these common types, usually found in portable electronics such as your cell phone. While these batteries are usually more expensive, they can be recharged over and over again. Also, there is no loss in power output as they are discharged.