LEAD ACID BATTERIES (AUTOMOTIVE & SEALED LEAD-BASED):
Lead acid batteries are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. It's essential to recycle them because of the hazardous materials (and valuable resources) inside them. Over 97 percent of all battery lead between 1997 and 2001 was recycled in the U.S. making lead acid battery recycling one of the most successful recycling programs in the world.
Hopefully, a battery will be created that can replace the lead acid battery, because there are environmental concerns about improper disposal of these batteries, which are most frequently used in automobiles.
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NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERIES (NiCD):
The nickel cadmium battery was the first rechargeable battery that was reasonably priced and available in the standard cylindrical sizes (AA, AAA, etc.). These batteries come in two types: vented cells and hermetically sealed cells. Vented cells must be positioned so they can vent properly and also require water for maintenance. They are commonly used in commercial and military applications. Hermetically sealed batteries, however, do not required any maintenance and they do not need to be specially positioned. NiCD batteries are used in low-to-moderate discharged devices such as scanners, portable radios, cordless phones and power tools. Since these batteries contain cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, they require special disposal. In the U.S., there is a fee built into the price for nickel cadmium batteries which includes proper disposal of the batteries at the end of their lifetimes through the RBRC program. All NiCD batteries are identified by the Environmantal Protection Agency (EPA) as hazardous waste and must be recycled. Cadmium and iron-nickel are recovered during recycling.
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NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE BATTERIES (NiMH):
The main difference between this battery and the NiCD battery is the metal hydride used instead of cadmium. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are also available in the standard cylindrical sizes. These batteries also have two to three times the capacity of a nikel cadmium, and memory effect is not as significan. Memory effect is when a battery's maximum energy capacity gradually decreases as a result of being recharged before the battery has completely discharged.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are commonly used in high-discharge devices like portable power tools, digital cameras, cell phones and laptops. They are considered non-hazadous waste, but do contain element that can be recycled. The individual materials of the batteries are mechanically separated, and a high nickel content is produced and used in the manufacture of stainless steel.
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