Collection and proper disposal of used batteries is an important step toward preserving nature and using resources responsibly.
With proper disposal, batteries not only stop polluting the environment but also become a source of valuable materials that can be reused in industry. Specialized facilities sort, crush and separate collected batteries into components. From one ton of processed cells, approximately 288 kg of manganese, 240 kg of zinc and 47 kg of graphite are recovered. These materials return about 90% of the raw materials to production: manganese is used in microfertilizers, zinc for galvanizing metal structures, and graphite in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. Some components are used to manufacture new batteries.
Some interesting facts:
- Batteries age even if they are not used. A battery's capacity gradually decreases due to chemical reactions, and this process is called self-discharge. The rate of this process depends on the battery type: carbon-zinc (saline) batteries lose 10–20% per year, alkaline batteries 3–5%, and lithium batteries about 1–2%.
- A battery's performance depends directly on temperature. It's all about the chemical reactions taking place inside. At low temperatures, ions find it harder to move through the electrolyte (it can even thicken), which increases internal resistance and lowers the voltage — a device may shut down even though usable energy remains. At high temperatures, reaction rates increase, but this is not always beneficial: side reactions accelerate as well, causing the battery to wear out faster.
- One battery can contaminate about 20 square meters of soil and 400 liters of water. That's why batteries are classified as hazard class II and must not be disposed of with regular waste.
In the offices, stores and factories of the Vostok-Service Group there are special collection boxes for used batteries. As they fill up, we hand them over to the EcoTaxi recyclables collection service for safe transport and recycling. Employees, partners and customers of the company actively use this opportunity to dispose of waste correctly.
We thank all participants in the eco-program. Join us!