Around three billion batteries are thrown away each year, in the US alone. Batteries contribute to water and air pollution on a large scale. In fact, battery waste is responsible for polluting at least 600,000 liters of water. Improper disposal of batteries fills the water with lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium.
That’s where Recycle My Battery steps in. The student-led organization based in New Jersey helps spread awareness on the effects of battery waste, how recycling batteries helps the environment, and how to safely dispose of batteries.
Recycle My Battery’s Maryland Chapter, the second most active chapter after the New Jersey chapter, has collected more than 25,000 batteries within the last few months. Thank you to all the residents of Urbana who donated their batteries to help us achieve this goal! The environment must be thanking us right now.