Waste Battery Recycling ProgramEthan Pham. MBA, PhD Student

Walden University

HUMN-8165-10/PUBH-8165-10 Environmental Health Instructor: Dr, Howard Rubin

Agenda

Introduction : Environmental hazards of batteries

The risk factor to landfills and environmental health

Different types of household batteries Mortality and symptoms caused by waste

batteries Waste batteries overseas (China) Where and how to recycle your batteries 3 Missions and strategy Conclusion

Introduction Americans use nearly 3

billion dry-cell batteries Averages about 32 per

family or 10 per person.

batteries contain heavy metals:

Alkaline/manganese, carbon-zinc, mercuric-oxide, zinc-air, silver-oxide,

For button batteries: Lead-acid, nickel-

cadmium, and potentially nickel-hydrogen

Source: Universal Waste – Used Batteries Environmental Fact sheet

Different types of household batteries

Most popular household batteries: Alkaline

Manganese (coppertop alkaline) AAA, AA, C, D, 6V,9V

Button Mercuric oxide, Silver Oxide, Lithium Alkaline,

Zinc-Air Sizes are vary

Risk factor to landfills and environmental health

Lakes, streams, and rivers may be contaminated

Heavy metals may leach from solid waste in landfills.

Lead and acid exposure to drinking water Corrosive acids may cause burns to eyes or

skin

What happens with improper waste battery disposal ?

The risk of Improper Battery Disposal Cadmium

Serious cause cancers

The risk of Lead Acid Contamination Animals contaminated with lead metals Lead poisoning infection in children The possible development of lung cancer through

the respiratory system Digestive disorders and damages to the skin’s

condition

Improper Disposal of Waste Batteries in China Lack of Governmental Support

Lack of Regulation by corruption Lack of Public Awareness and Participation

Lack of human rights and education Lack of Proper Storage and Sorting

Facilities Poor technology and resources Lack of Advanced Recycling Techniques

Source: APCHW

Symptoms caused by Waste Batteries

Waste batteries: Mercury poisoning to people

Damages the Central Nervous System (CNS) Mortality rate as high as 40%

Major hazards of cadmium renal toxicity Causes Itai-itai disease

Osteoporosis, rickets, and fractures

Source :sooperarticles

Federal regulation WAC 173-303-081 A waste will be designated as a dangerous waste and assigned a "P" or "U" code if it is

handled in any of the manners described in (e) of this subsection, and if it is a residue from the management of:

     (a) A commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate (see definition in WAC 173-303-040) which has the generic name listed in the discarded chemical products list, WAC 173-303-9903;

     (b) An off-specification commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate which if it had met specifications would have the generic name listed in the discarded chemical products list, WAC 173-303-9903;

     (c) Any containers, inner liners, or residue remaining in a container or in an inner liner removed from a container that has held any commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate that has, or any off-specification commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate which if it had met specifications would have, the generic name listed on the "P" or "U" discarded chemical products list of WAC 173-303-9903, unless the containers or inner liners are empty as described in WAC 173-303-160(2);

Source: apps

EPA Regulation

What Are the Waste Management Requirements for Small Quantity Handlers of Universal Waste Batteries? 40 CFR 273.13(a)

Source: EPA Regulation

Mission 1

Recycling companies Must provide retail stores with battery

containers Prove method of the recycling system to

Public Environmental Health Cooperate with local government as needed

Mission 2

Family household members should participate with battery recycling programs.

Save batteries in a safe place Household members can purchase batteries

containers in any local business store. Drops off batteries at any retail business

stores Promotion recycling batteries by the receipt of

extra store refunds or coupons

Mission 3

Federal or local government inducements Deduct tax credits for retail businesses

Monitoring:

Environmental Health

Retails business

store

Household members

Recycle companies

Federal and local

government

Conclusions

Messages for Environmental of Pubic Health Local states and federal governments Marketing the waste batteries recycling

programs in communities On television, newspaper, radio, internet, etc.

Expand or rebuild recycling companies for waste batteries.

Very important: give small refunds for their participation.

Thank you

The law will make you destroy them accordingly.

If you can create and sell them successfully follow by the laws

References Apps(2011)Excluded categories of waste

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=173-303-071 Dongjie, N. (2000)Recycling of lead-acid battery waste both from mining and

other industry. Third Asia-pacific Regional Workshop on Hazardous Waste Management in Mining Industry, APCHW, Beijing, September 4-8-2000

Adeq(2010).Universal Waste - Used Batteries Environmental Factsheet.12/22/2010 Retrieved from http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/ftproot/pub/pa/brochures_online/05_Hazardous%20Waste/Universal%20Waste%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Used%20Batteries.pdf

EPA(2011) Batteries http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/wastetypes/universal/batteries.htm

Docstor(2011). Recycling of lead acid battery waste both from mining and other.01/16/2011 retrieved from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19683816/recycling-of-lead-acid-battery-waste-both-from-mining-and-other.

Ehso(2010)Environment, Health and Safety Online.01/12/2011 retrieved from http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/batteries.php