Rechargeable Batteries Vs. Disposable Batteries For Eco Safety

Differences

• Disposable batteries are those that can only be used up once and, when depleted, are thrown away. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged in a charger, and often used for years.

Disposable Battery Composition

• Most disposable batteries are of the dry-cell alkaline type. At one point, these batteries used to contain a great deal of mercury and other chemicals that were very harmful to the environment. In recent years, however, the amount of mercury has decreased, and some brands use none at all now. Many disposables are recyclable, but it may be difficult to find a place that will take them for recycling. They are still likely to end up in a landfill.

Rechargeable Battery Types and Composition

• Previously, most rechargeable batteries were nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries that contained cadmium, which is extremely environmentally toxic. However, nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries and lithium-ion batteries have become much more common among rechargeable batters for their longer life and better performance. Additionally, NiMH batteries are considerablly less harmful to the environment because they replace Cadmium with a much lower polluting hydrogen-absorbing alloy.

Conclusion

• Although disposable batteries may not be as environmentally damaging as they once were, they still produce a great deal of waste. Additionally, given advancements in rechargeable battery technology, they are usable for much longer and have fewer toxic metals as well.