How Many Batteries Are In Landfill?
Batteries In Landfill Sites UK
An estimated 20,000 batteries from households end up in landfill every year. With the addition of batteries from businesses, the numbers could reach significant volumes.
In 2020, researchers estimated that less than 5% of lithium batteries are recycled at the end of their lives. As these batteries are recyclable, the staggering numbers can easily be avoided through correct disposal methods.
What Happens To Batteries In Landfill?
Whilst batteries corrode in landfills, they release extremely harmful toxins. These chemicals seep into the ground damaging the surrounding environment and water sources. Over time, the casing of batteries corrodes, causing harmful chemicals and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium to leak into the surrounding soil and groundwater.
This contamination can spread, affecting plant and animal life and posing severe health risks to communities reliant on local water sources. Toxins are also released into the air causing further pollutants.
Lithium-Ion batteries also pose a fire risk in landfill sites and disposal recycling facilities when disposed of incorrectly. These types of batteries are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and inherently flammable.
How Long Do Batteries Take To Break Down In Landfill?
Batteries can take over 100 years to fully decompose in landfill. The decomposition of batteries in landfills is an extremely slow process, often taking hundreds to thousands of years.
During this prolonged decomposition period, the batteries continue to release toxic substances into the environment. Lithium-ion batteries, prevalent in modern electronics, may take even longer to degrade fully due to their complex construction and durable materials.
This extended breakdown time underscores the persistent threat they pose, reinforcing the importance of diverting batteries from landfill and implementing more sustainable disposal methods.
Divert Batteries From Landfill With Our Help
At Collect and Recycle, we are dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of battery disposal by providing efficient and effective recycling solutions.
By partnering with us, you can ensure that your used batteries are handled responsibly and do not end up in landfills. Our comprehensive recycling program accepts a wide range of battery types and guarantees that they are processed using environmentally friendly methods.
We work with certified recycling facilities that recover valuable materials and safely neutralise hazardous components, transforming waste into reusable resources.
If your business produces large volumes of battery waste for recycling, get in touch with our specialist team today. We can also provide certified battery boxes and containers to store and transport your waste safely. All of the waste will be recycled at licensed facilities, ensuring compliance and sustainability.
