Newtech Recycling is always on a mission to make the world a better place to live through our environmentally sound recycling techniques. You have likely heard the story before: too many people take the easy way out and throw away their batteries and other electronic waste with the rest of the trash. The e-waste ultimately makes its way to a landfill, where harmful metals such as lead and nickel can leach into the soil and poison the environment.
That reality is why we take electronic disposal so seriously at Newtech Recycling. We do everything we can to recycle the right way in New Jersey and the surrounding Tri-state area where we operate, but it falls upon everyone to do their part, as well.
In the case of battery recycling, we realize you may have questions about which kinds are fine to throw away and which should be recycled because of the harm they pose to the environment. In this guide, we will detail some different types of batteries and how you can recycle the harmful ones with Newtech Recycling. Being informed about this process can help you to be responsible when it comes to your own e-waste disposal.
What Types of Batteries to Recycle
It may surprise you to learn that not all batteries need to be recycled with a company such as Newtech Recycling. Let’s learn about some of the differences.
Single-Use Batteries
In the world of e-waste recycling, modern, single-use alkaline batteries are considered to be the good guys. These are the batteries found in your flashlights and television remotes. They include AA, AAA, and 9-volt batteries. The reason these types of batteries are safe to throw out is because of the materials that compose them. The U.S. federal government has deemed their components of steel, zinc, manganese, potassium, and graphite to be acceptable for traditional disposal in the garbage; only California has banned the disposal of all types of batteries.
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries, meanwhile–such as those found in laptops, power tools, and cell phones–should be recycled rather than thrown in the trash. That’s because they could contain hazardous metals such as lead, nickel, cadmium, and lithium. If those metals got into the soil of a landfill, they could eventually infect everything from groundwater to plant and animal life. You must recycle these batteries, then, but how?
In a case such as that, give Newtech Recycling a call. We have a recycling process that allows us to work efficiently at this. Our large-scale electronic recycling plan may first require us to pick up your rechargeable batteries if you have a large volume of them, such as if you are cleaning out a corporate office. Then, at our recycling plant, we break apart the batteries into hazardous and non-hazardous materials. We are able to take the dangerous metals and add them back into the manufacturing industry, where they can be of use once again. This is a great way of keeping harmful materials out of the environment.
Button Batteries
We then come to button batteries, which you can find in watches, some toys, electronic greeting cards, and more. These buttons may be made of simple alkaline materials, just like AA batteries are. In that case, button batteries can be thrown away. However, if the button batteries contain lithium, silver, or mercury, they are obviously considered hazardous and should be either recycled or returned to the manufacturer for proper disposal.
Responsible E-Waste Recycling for Your Batteries
You can see from the above list that, while some batteries are fine to toss out in the trash, others contain dangerous metals and must be disposed of with all the proper care. In New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, Newtech Recycling works hard every day to practice safe and responsible electronic recycling for our customers and the environment. Whether it’s computer recycling, hard drive destruction, or recycling your rechargeable batteries, Newtech can help. E-waste recycling is an issue that is important not just to us, but to the world in general.
If you find yourself wondering how to recycle your batteries, or whether your batteries are hazardous at all, call Newtech Recycling. We are happy to recycle any of your old electronics and dispose of them in safe, legal, sustainable ways. Contact us today to learn more.