Rechargeables vs. Disposables
According to the EPA, Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell disposable batteries every year. This constitutes 88% of the mercury and 54% of the cadmium deposited into US solid waste landfills, posing a potential long-term threat to groundwater and drinking water supplies.
According to a study by Uniross carried out in 2007, the production of rechargeable batteries have the following advantages over disposables (comparing serviceable life):
– 23 times less potential impact on non-renewable natural resources
– 28 times less potential impact on global warming
– 30 times less potential impact on air pollution (ozone pollution)
– 9 times less potential impact on air acidification
– 2 times less potential impact on water pollution
| Cost Analysis for Rechargeable vs. Disposable Batteries* | |||||
| Battery Type |
Batteries Produced | Initial Procurement Cost Per Battery | Total Procurement Costs | Hazardous Waste Disposal (grams) | 3-year Cost Savings |
| Rechargeable | 1 | $11 | $11 | 16gm | $639 |
| Disposable | 876 | $0.74 | $650 | 105gm | – |
* Soviero, Marcelle, “Batteries Come Clean,” Popular Science, July 1992, v241, n1.