Disposing of these products correctly is one of the ways to do your part in protecting the environment.

How to dispose of batteries and batteries correctly? For those who care about the environment, having an answer to that question is critical. This item is one of the most frequent in offices and homes and under no circumstances should end up in common garbage.

The legislation prohibits batteries from being left out in the open, both in urban and rural areas. However, there is not enough inspection regarding this type of infraction and the best way to prevent this from happening is through awareness. The idea is to prevent toxic substances from cells and batteries from ending up contaminating the soil and groundwater.

If the disposal in common garbage is not correct, what is the best way to get rid of this type of garbage without harming the environment?

Reverse logistics: the best way

Reverse logistics solutions are today the best way for a company to give the correct destination to used batteries. Some places with great movement of people, such as supermarkets, cell phone stores and even pharmacies have become collection points for used batteries.

The idea is that these establishments become centers of redistribution, returning to the manufacturers the products already used so that they receive the proper treatment. For the consumer, therefore, the secret is not to dispose of batteries in common garbage or even in recyclable garbage. Keeping them to deliver these residues to the collection points remains the best way.

How to store cells and batteries correctly

As batteries cannot be mixed with ordinary waste, it is important that you keep them in a safe place until it is time to take them away for disposal. It is necessary to keep them away from environments where the temperature is very high, otherwise, they may explode and leak.

The best thing to do is to put the batteries inside a shoebox, for example, which should be kept in a dry place and away from the sun. They should not also be close to machines and equipment that produce a lot of heat. If something goes wrong and the batteries explode or leak, avoid putting your hands in contact with the crystalline structure that forms outside. Pack the batteries in a plastic bag and from time to time take them to a recycling center.  

Discover the three main groups of cells and batteries

If we take into account the cells and batteries currently available on the market, we can subdivide them into three groups:

• The first is composed of zinc-manganese, alkaline-manganese, lithium-ion, zinc-air, nickel-metal and hydride batteries. They are simpler and non-rechargeable type. They carry toxic substances, but in smaller amounts.
  
• Group 2 batteries, on the other hand, are lead acid, nickel cadmium and mercury oxide. In this group, we can include car batteries and those of some older cell phones. These are already a little more harmful to the environment and, for this reason, they should always be disposed of correctly.
  
• Finally, there are batteries composed of cadmium, lead or mercury, found in even more obsolete products. These, under no circumstances should be discarded in common garbage. In this case, always look for the stores of the telephone operators. The legislation requires them to have specific urns to receive this type of discarded material, so that they can be forwarded to the manufacturers.

If you and your company want to do your part, know that it is essential to correctly store batteries and arrange for the correct disposal. Look for the nearest delivery station for this type of material in your city and value the environment. It costs nothing and you still help nature. After all, being socially responsible is a big plus for any business.