Batteries are recycled in a multistep metallurgical process. Batteries are shredded and sorted into requisite components. There are many metals, plastics, and secondary materials that are recovered including zinc and iron.
Keep reading to find out how you could even potentially get paid to recycle your old batteries and have them taken out of your hands (and off your mind) as soon as tomorrow.
Depending on the Nickel Metal Hydride battery type, such as whether they are wet-cell or dry-cell, there are specific guidelines to follow in order to recycle them properly.
But don’t worry — for Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, we at Battery Recyclers of America provide white-glove services to palletize your batteries that adhere to federal DOT safety regulations.
For more details, we conveniently offer a comprehensive step-by-step guide to package your batteries here. For other types of batteries, we also provide detailed answers on our FAQ page regarding how to package different battery types.
If you’re unsure which type of Nickel Metal Hydride battery you have, feel free to contact us, and one of our associates will help you identify them.
Don’t stress yourself about recycling your batteries. We can reach you anywhere you are and always comply with all laws and regulations.
We can handle all your battery recycling needs no matter how many batteries you have. We can take them off your hands as soon as tomorrow.
To reduce harmful chemicals such as mercury and other toxic metal content, the “Battery Act” (The Mercury Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 1996) was signed into law in 1996. This has resulted in great progress towards a healthier environment and safer recycling and disposal of battery waste.
Depending on the chemistry within each battery, not all batteries are recycled the same way. As a general rule, the outer casing of the battery is first broken apart or disassembled. Next, the internal components are either melted, crushed, or broken apart. The various components are sorted by type, cleaned and processed, and then returned into the new product materials stream.
If you need to have your battery waste removed, a good first step would be to educate yourself on your state’s laws for recycling spent batteries. Go to BatteryCouncil.org for a breakdown of battery recycling laws by state.
Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are used in both industrial and commercial settings, and each contains different amounts of materials. Industrial NiMH batteries contain 6% cadmium, while commercial Nickel Metal Hydride batteries contain 18% cadmium.
Cadmium is a toxic heavy material, so it is important to work with a trusted professional battery recycling company to ensure that proper care is taken during battery disposal.
If this is not done properly, the cadmium can cause substantial pollution, putting our environment and residents at risk. This is just one of the many reasons the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) created the Universal Waste Rules. These rules have resulted in safer battery recycling programs and proper battery disposal processes.
Unfortunately many American plants avoid complying with this regulation by outsourcing their waste materials to international factories.
Many of these international factories adhere to environmental laws that are considerably more lax than the EPA’s. By not complying with EPA approved practices and programs, these plants are disposing harmful chemicals into the environment, further contributing to climate change.
We at Battery Recyclers of America are passionate about environmental sustainability. We only have one home, and the small choices we make can have a huge impact with protecting our planet.
When you recycle your batteries with our organization, you can rest assured that your batteries will be recycled using EPA approved practices and programs.
Just have a few Nickel Metal Hydride batteries to recycle? If you have a small scale battery load up to 1,000 pounds to recycle, feel free to contact our partners at Call2Recycle or Contact Us, and we will be more than happy to assist you.
Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are rechargeable batteries that use the electrodes metallic cadmium and nickel oxide hydroxide. They have a wide variety of uses, including cell phones, handheld electronics, power tools, and medical equipment.
Compared to other rechargeable batteries, such as lead-acid batteries, NiMH batteries offer a great lifespan and the ability to deliver near full capacity at high discharge rates. However, the cells themselves have high-discharge rates, and the materials in Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are more costly than others. They have become a versatile battery due to their wide range of sizes, varying from small and portable to large ventilated cells.
Misidentification of batteries during recycling can lead to hazardous shipping and recycling incidents. If you’re unsure which battery type you have, feel free to contact us, and one of our associates will gladly assist you when identifying your batteries.
When a normal battery is put to use, the reaction causes the chemicals inside begin to break apart, allowing electrons to flow from one end of the battery to the other. For many batteries, this reaction can only happen once. By charging Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, you will reverse the process, allowing the electrons to flow back to their original state and be ready for use again.
NiMH batteries also offer other significant advantages, one of them being that they are much harder to damage than most batteries. Even at high discharge, they are able to tolerate the situation for long periods of time, making them a popular choice due to durability.
Generally, Nickel Metal Hydride batteries have a long lifespan and often last for about 15-20 years. However, as time goes on, the amount of power the NiMH battery can provide begins to wear down. When they are no longer useful to you, contact Battery Recyclers of America. We can help you safely and efficiently recycle the materials in the battery, so that they are good for further use.
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