Batteries
Disposable Batteries
Mercury is no longer intentionally added to many conventional batteries. However there are at least 3 button cell battery formulations that use mercury - zinc air, silver oxide and alkaline manganese. These batteries are typically used in hearing aids, watches, cameras, toys and games. Even the "mercury free" batteries may contain trace amounts of mercury because it is a common contaminant of many chemicals and raw materials.
When you collect batteries for recycling, heed the advice of Cecilia DeLoach (Health Care Without Harm): "Make sure if you are collecting batteries, you don’t collect them in a cardboard box due to their ignitable status. Also- you should have staff place tape over charged ends so that batteries sharing a container don’t spark upon contact since most still have some remaining charge. A hospital we are working with has actually offered alkaline batteries to staff to take home and use in walkmans, toys etc. since batteries are often changed out after one procedure and are usually still good to us." |
