Feb. 18 is National Battery Day, a day to appreciate the scientific marvels that power our modern lives. In 1748, Benjamin Franklin first coined the term “battery” to describe an array of charged glass plates. In 1800, Italian scientist Alessandro Volta layered silver, cloth or paper soaked in salt or acid, and zinc into what he called “voltaic piles,” which generated a limited electrical current. We get the word “volt” from his name to describe electric potential. National Battery Day falls on the anniversary of Alessandro Volta’s birth, which took place in 1745.
Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power all sorts of gadgets, toys, phones, watches, hearing aids car key fobs, remote controls, and portable power tools. Drycell batteries include alkaline and carbon zinc (9-volt, D, C, AA, AAA), mercuric-oxide (button, some cylindrical and rectangular), silver-oxide and zinc-air (button), and lithium (9-volt, C, AA, coin, button, rechargeable). On average, each person in the United States discards eight dry-cell batteries per year.
Because of the materials used in batteries, some types are considered household hazardous waste and require special disposal procedures. Non-rechargeable alkaline batteries can safely be put in the trash. The Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act passed in 1996 phased out the use of mercury in alkaline batteries, making them less of an issue when disposed in landfills. Alkaline batteries are recyclable where facilities or programs exist, however they are not accepted at the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center.
Nearly one in five dry-cell batteries purchased in the United States is rechargeable. Each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries during its usable life.
When the battery won’t recharge, bring it to the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center.
Nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), nickel zinc (Ni-Zn), lithium ion (Liion), and cellphone batteries are accepted Tuesday-Friday, 7:30-4:30. Limit 5 batteries per visit.
Some 99 million wet-cell lead-acid car batteries are manufactured each year. Almost 90 percent of all lead-acid batteries are recycled. In Indiana, dealers are required to take old batteries when new ones are purchased. Residents can also bring up to five car batteries per visit to the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Car batteries are also accepted at the Bartholomew County Landfill for recycling in the small loads area. Spent lead acid batteries may not be discarded in landfills due to environmental regulations.
While observing National Battery Day on Feb. 18, check your smoke alarm and detector batteries. Smoke alarms/detectors and fire extinguishers are also considered household hazardous waste. They can be brought to the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for disposal. Limit five per visit.
For more information on household hazardous waste disposal, visit bcswmd.com.
Jessica Norcross is the education coordinator for the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District. Contact her by email at [email protected] or call 812-376-2614 to schedule a tour, program or presentation.
