How to Safely Dispose of Batteries

To be fair, for those of us who previously smoked cigarettes, we all have our reasons for turning to the world of vaping. Whether it was for a healthier lifestyle, cheaper costs or simple convenience, millions have dropped the fags in favour of the vaping revolution.

However, did you know there are also environmental benefits to vaping? Well, there is, providing you know how to safely dispose of batteries.

Your decision to chuck the habit has actually helped the environment. An incredible half a billion trees are cut down every year for the cigarette industry, who use the wood for anything from curing the tobacco to manufacturing the paper, filters and packaging for their products. Furthermore, those cigarette butts you regularly see lining the city streets account for an astonishing 38% of all illegally discarded litter across the globe. Crazy numbers right?

There are plenty of reasons for those of us who have turned to vaping to sit there smug on our high horse. Perhaps not quite so. We still have our own responsibilities.

No matter what you use batteries for, whether it be your vape, a flashlight or your video doorbell, they all have to be disposed of in the right manner. The key point - don’t throw them in the bin. Lithium-ion batteries are harmful to the environment and, when churned up amidst the mountains of rubbish dumped into landfill, can easily spring a leak. Harmful metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury can quickly absorb into the soil, making their way into the water supply. This is a disaster for plants, animals and humans, causing a range of issues from birth defects to neurological problems.

In these conditions, the batteries are also liable to explode, setting alight the mix of materials into a toxic combination of chemicals polluting the atmosphere. Probably for the best that we avoid chucking these batteries in the bin then.

So, as a starter for ten, here’s a quick guide on how to safely dispose of batteries...

Recycling

There are many companies and stores that will recycle batteries and dispose of them properly. Websites such as Recycle Now allow you to source local organisations that will accept batteries for recycling. It can even be your local newsagents down the road. According to Recycling More, since battery laws came into force in the UK in February 2010, most shops and supermarkets that sell batteries have collection bins in-store for used batteries.

By using this environmentally responsible method, we can safely dispose of a battery without causing any harm to the environment.

Donate used vape batteries

You can also donate undamaged, working batteries for use by someone else. Many battery stores will accept unwanted batteries, either taking them for free or for a small fee. Again, it’s another environmentally friendly way to safely dispose of a battery and keep them out of the landfill. Recycled batteries can be used in all sorts of applications - mainly, the construction of power walls to store electricity and power homes.

As a business who sells a large number of batteries for use across various applications including vaping, we’re also environmentally conscious and acknowledge the impact batteries can have on the environment - if not disposed of properly.

To recap on how to safely dispose of batteries;

1. Recycle your batteries using the collection bins at local shops
2. Donate any undamaged and working batteries for use by someone else
3. Return the batteries to your local vape retailer who will be able to safely dispose of them
4. If you live near the Fogstar unit in Worcestershire, bring your used batteries to us and we will dispose of them properly
5. Don’t ever throw them in the bin.

Hopefully, you’ll find this article useful so that you can continue to use our batteries, whether it be for vaping or anything else, in an environmentally friendly way!