Each year, over three billion dry cell batteries are sold throughout the United States. What happens to each one of those batteries when they run out of juice? Well, that’s something that each of us needs to work on. While the recycling of laptop batteries is becoming more and more common by the day, we still have a long way to go. Here we’ve answered three very important questions that exist when it comes to the recycling of batteries.

WHY do I need to recycle old laptop batteries?
According to Adria Vasil’s book Ecoholic- 50% to 70% of heavy metals found in landfills come from our everyday batteries. That’s 50% to 70%! Because batteries disposed of in municipal landfills and trash incinerators can disperse significant amounts of heavy metals and other toxic substances into the air and water, battery waste prevention and recycling strategies are essential.

Laptop batteries make up a significant part of that 50% to 70% of heavy metals in landfills. And while most manufacturers are taking great steps in producing new types of eco-friendly batteries, it’s important to remember that laptop batteries and computer batteries should never, ever be thrown in the trash.

HOW should I recycle my laptop batteries?
It’s safe to say that most people are beginning to recognize how important it is to recycle laptop batteries and keep them out of our landfills. The easy part about all of this is that you really don’t have to much when it’s time to discard a used up laptop battery. In fact, all you have to do is contact your local recycling facility for more information on how to dispose of your used computer batteries properly.

WHERE should I recycle my laptop batteries?
As we mentioned in the previous section, you can contact your local recycling facility for more information on how and where to go about recycling your old laptop batteries. If you’re not sure just who or where your *local recycling facility is, you can try using the tools put together by Earth911.com or Call2Recycle US. These will show you where the nearest recycling center is, and they can help you from there. You also have the option of sending old laptop batteries directly to Atbatt if you would like. Take a look at the Battery Disposal Guide for more information on how to go about doing so. How to Prepare Batteries for Recycling.

Awareness surrounding the importance of recycling old laptop batteries is definitely on the rise. In the last 15 years, Call2Recyle alone has collected over 50 million pounds of batteries overall. There’s still a lot of work to be done however, and it’s on each person to make sure their old batteries are properly discarded.