Environmental and Health Issues and Recommendations
 Prevents Waste:
Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of.
- Consider buying rechargeable batteries. Over its useful life, each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries.
 End-of-Life Management:
All batteries are considered hazardous waste in California when they are discarded.
- Manage batteries responsibly by taking advantage of recycling programs.
See the Introduction for complete descriptions of these environmental and health issues.
BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES
Background
According the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
- "Americans purchase nearly three billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, and portable power tools.
- Inside a battery, heavy metals react with chemical electrolyte to produce the battery's power.
- Wet-cell batteries, which contain a liquid electrolyte, commonly power automobiles, boats, or motorcycles.
- Nearly 99 million wet-cell lead-acid car batteries are manufactured each year.
- Mercury was phased out of certain types of batteries in conjunction with the "Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act," passed in 1996.
- Recycling batteries keeps heavy metals out of landfills and the air. Recycling saves resources because recovered plastic and metals can be used to make new batteries." [2]
Environmental and Health Issues
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
"Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. When incinerated, certain metals might be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash produced by the combustion process.
"One way to reduce the number of batteries in the waste stream is to purchase rechargeable batteries. Nearly one in five dry-cell batteries purchased in the United States is rechargeable. Over its useful life, each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries." [4]
LAWS AND GUIDELINES
See End-of-Life Management.
PERFORMANCE
The general properties and performance of a variety of batteries are described in the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center's New Technology Batteries Guide (see Chapters 2 and 3).
AVAILABILITY
For information on availability, visit the California Integrated Waste Management Board's Waste Prevention World Rechargeable Battery and Charger Sources Web page. See also Vendors.
COST
Rechargeable batteries can offer waste reduction and overall dollar savings in exchange for higher initial cost. [5]
SPECIFICATIONS
California
The Procurement Engineering Team of the Procurement Division of the Department of General Services develops and reviews specifications for statewide commodity standards and information technology. If you have questions regarding developing specifications, or would like a copy of one of their specifications, please contact the team.
Environmental ChoiceM Program
The Environmental ChoiceM Program (ECP), Environment Canada's ecolabelling program, provides a market incentive to manufacturers and suppliers of environmentally preferable products and services, and thereby helps consumers identify products and services that are less harmful to the environment.
The ECP's Certification Criteria for rechargeable batteries are:
- The rated capacity of the rechargeable consumer battery, by model, must be equal to or greater than the following minimum values: AAA: 300 mAh; AA: 750 mAh; C: 1800 mAh; D: 3000 mAh; N: 270 mAh; and 9V: 180 mAh.
- The cycle life capacity of the battery, by model, must be equal to or greater than the following minimum values: AAA: 7 Ah; AA: 16.5 Ah; C: 48 Ah; D: 70 Ah; N: 5 Ah; and 9V: 3 Ah.
- No electrolyte, sealing compound, or other internal component may appear on any external surfaces of the battery during or following any of the tests specified in the above requirements.
- The battery must be labeled as required in the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard applicable to the model, when available or with at least the following information: safety-related prohibitions; use-related instructions to prevent hazards, promote maximum battery life, and utility.
- The batteries must be manufactured so that none of the effluents or wastes discharged to the environment in the manufacturing process are acutely lethal.
- The batteries must not be manufactured or formulated with mercury, cadmium, or their compounds, except where such substances are present as naturally occurring trace contaminants associated with other battery components. [6]
Nordic Swan
The Swan is the official Nordic ecolabel, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Swan logo demonstrates that a product is a good environmental choice. The green symbol is available for around 60 product groups for which it is felt that ecolabelling is needed and will be beneficial. The Swan checks that products fulfill certain criteria using methods such as samples from independent laboratories, certificates and control visits. The label is usually valid for three years, after which the criteria are revised and the company must reapply for a license.
VENDORS
Statewide Office Supplies Contract
Rechargeable batteries and chargers are available through the statewide office supplies contract with OfficeMax (Contract # 1-01-75-55).
Local agencies may use State procurement contracts.
Other Contracts
To determine the availability of batteries through other contracts, visit the Department of General Services, Procurement Division Web site.
SUCCESS STORIES
Florida
"Broward County, Florida created a pollution prevention program to divert almost one ton of mercury per year in medical batteries from waste disposal facilities. The program involved educating hospital personnel and encouraging the use of less hazardous batteries. Many hospitals actually saved money by switching to the higher cost zinc air batteries because they avoided the cost of having to manage mercury waste." [9],[10]
RESOURCES AND WEBSITES
Australian Government Department of Defence
This department maintains a Battery Safety web site.
Battery Council International (BCI)
Chicago, IL
(312) 644-6610
Battery Council International is a trade organization that brings together the leading lead-acid battery manufacturers in North America and other major players from around the world. Externally, BCI provides information and resources on the industry to numerous outside organizations and researchers.
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)
Sacramento, CA
(916) 341-6000
The CIWMB's mission is to reduce waste, promote the management of all materials to their highest and best use, and protect public health and safety and the environment, in partnership with all Californians. Visit the following CIWMB Web sites:
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
The Department's mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality, by regulating hazardous waste, conducting and overseeing cleanups, and developing and promoting pollution prevention. More than 1,000 scientists, engineers and specialized support staff work in nine locations statewide. See the fact sheet titled "Management of Spent Lead-Acid Batteries" and the Universal Waste Web site.
Environment Canada
The Environmental ChoiceM Program (ECP)
c/o TerraChoice Environmental Marketing
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
The Environmental ChoiceM Program (ECP), Environment Canada's ecolabelling program, provides a market incentive to manufacturers and suppliers of environmentally preferable products and services, and thereby helps consumers identify products and services that are less harmful to the environment. Established in 1988, the ECP was the second national ecolabelling initiative undertaken. There are now more than three dozen such programs worldwide. The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is an international association of ecolabelling programs, including the ECP.
The Program's official symbol of certification - the EcoLogoM - features three stylized doves intertwined to form a maple leaf, representing consumers, industry and government working together to improve Canada's environment. A key aspect of the certification process is the requirement for third party verification of compliance to ECP certification criteria as a condition for certification and licensing.
National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)
(800) 248-2742
The NLECTC was created in 1994 as a component of the National Institute of Justice's Office of Science and Technology. See its New Technology Batteries Guide.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Washington, DC
(202) 272-0167
The mission of the USEPA is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, the USEPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. See the following on-line resources:
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC)
Atlanta, GA
(678) 419-9990
The RBRC is a non-profit public service organization dedicated to recycling Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead *(Pb) rechargeable batteries. These batteries power a variety of portable electronic products such as cellular and cordless phones, power tools, laptop computers, camcorders, two-way radios and remote control toys.
More than 300 manufacturers support the recycling program by placing the RBRC's Battery Recycling Seals on rechargeable batteries and portable electronic products. This seal lets consumers and businesses know that the battery can be recycled.
The RBRC offers recycling plans for retailers, businesses, communities and public agencies. The program is free for consumers, retailers, communities and public agencies. Participating businesses only pay for shipping to the reclamation facility. The RBRC provides collection materials and pays recycling costs. Some states have disposal bans of Ni-Cd and Pb batteries that prohibit users from throwing used batteries into the trash. State law requires these batteries to be recycled or properly disposed of through manufacturer/distributor or other collection programs.
END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT
California
Batteries are considered hazardous because of the metals and/or other toxic or corrosive materials contained within. Batteries are potentially a valuable source of recyclable metal. All batteries in California that are intended for disposal must be recycled, or taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility, a universal waste handler (e.g., storage facility or broker), or an authorized recycling facility.
According to an August 2002 California Integrated Waste Management Board report entitled, "Household Universal Waste Generation in California", there were 507,259,000 batteries sold in California in the year 2001. According to survey results published in the report, only 0.55 percent of these batteries were recycled.
Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are more common and pose a lower risk to people and the environment than other hazardous wastes. Federal and State regulations identify universal wastes and provide simple rules for handling, recycling, and disposing of them. The regulations, called the "Universal Waste Rule," are in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 23.
Universal wastes include mercury thermostats and thermometers, batteries, fluorescent lamps, cathode ray tubes, medical instruments that contain mercury, and others. Not all universal wastes are subject to the same regulations or disposal requirements. In general, universal waste may not be discarded in solid waste landfills.
Universal waste batteries include rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, silver button batteries, mercury batteries, small sealed lead-acid batteries (burglar alarm and emergency light batteries), most alkaline batteries, carbon-zinc batteries, and any other batteries that exhibit a characteristic of a hazardous waste (toxic, reactive, ignitable or corrosive). NOTE: Spent automotive-type lead-acid storage batteries are not universal waste.
"Under California's Universal Waste Rule, households and conditionally exempt small quantity generators were allowed to dispose batteries (not lead/acid batteries of the type used in autos), fluorescent lamps, mercury thermostats, and electronic devices to the trash through February 8, 2006. Local trash companies or other agencies were allowed to ban these items from the trash any time before February 8, 2006. Large and small quantity handlers are required to ship their universal waste to another handler, a universal waste transfer station, a recycling facility, or a disposal facility. Under California's Universal Waste Rule, specified waste generators were permitted to send specified universal wastes to landfills, but this disposal allowance has expired." [11]
Contact the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) office near you for more information. Also see the DTSC Web page on universal waste.
Automotive-Type Lead-Acid Storage Batteries
Spent automotive-type lead-acid storage batteries are not universal waste. They are hazardous wastes that require management as specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 16, Article 7.
Federal
"The U.S. Congress passed the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act in 1996 to make it easier for rechargeable battery and product manufacturers to collect and recycle Ni-CD batteries and certain small sealed lead-acid batteries. For these regulated batteries, the act requires the following:
- Batteries must be easily removable from consumer products, to make it easier to recover them for recycling.
- Battery labels must include the battery chemistry, the "three chasing arrows" symbol, and a phrase indicating that the user must recycle or dispose of the battery properly.
- National uniformity in collection, storage, and transport of certain batteries.
- Phase out the use of certain mercury-containing batteries." [14],[15]
[2] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste -- Commodities: Batteries Web page. Available at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/battery.htm.
[4] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste -- Commodities: Batteries Web page. Available at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/battery.htm.
[5] California Integrated Waste Management Board. Waste Prevention World, Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Web page. Available at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPW/Power/RechBattInfo.htm. Accessed on March 1, 2006.
[6] See also the Environmental Choice Program Certification Criteria Document (CCD-133) .
[9] Montana Pollution Prevention Program. Pollution Prevention Tips for Health Care Providers Web page. Available at http://www.montana.edu/~wwwated/healthcare.htm.
[10] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Mercury in Medical Waste: Use of Alternative Products Fact Sheet. Available at http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00791.htm.
[11] California Integrated Waste Management Board. Waste Prevention Information Exchange - Batteries Web page. Available at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPIE/Batteries/. Accessed on March 1, 2006.
[14] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste -- Commodities: Batteries Web page. Available at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/battery.htm.
[15] Public Law 104-142. Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act. May 13, 1996. Available at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/state/policy/pl104.pdf
Special Note: Portions of the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual were borrowed or adapted from the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of Minnesota.
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