0.55% of batteries are recycled in California. Here is a plan to reach 50%
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The problem
According to a report [1], vendors sold more than 507 millions batteries in California in 2001: only 0.55% of these batteries were recycled.
When not recyclyed, a single battery will pollute 35 cubic foot and 265 gallons of water for 50 years. The battery contains heavy metal like lead, mercury,
aluminum or lithium [2]. They are well-known to accumulate into living being, their body concentration increasing while climbing up the chain food, which ultimately ends inside our bodies.
The consequences of intoxication with heavy metal are very serious.
[1] Household Universal Waste Generation in California, August 2002
[2] but also Cadmium, Nickel, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium.
The solution
Knocking on neighboor's doors
Fortunately, it takes ONLY 1 PERSON by neighboor block, once every ten years, to reach 50% of recycling rate.The recycling process is pretty efficient: 60% of the metal can be reused after the process. But used batteries do not reach those recycling facilities because they end up stuck in jars or boxes, forgotten on our shelves in our home, which can lead to self intoxications .
That's why we can make the link between our homes and the recycling facilities or shop, throughout the neighborhood. We did in our Californian neighborhood and realized that 50% of the houses have very significant amounts of batteries. The batteries are accumulated for about 10 years in half the households and 99% are finally throw them to the normal trash. If we catch the batteries before that moment, by knocking on doors, we can bring recycling up to a 50% rate.
If you want help to volunteer, send a short email to [adrien dot chopin at gmail.com].
