Hazardous Waste Batteries

Study Notes

Hazardous waste batteries contain toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and nickel, along with corrosive electrolytes (sulfuric acid, alkaline solutions, or lithium-based chemicals).
Plastic and metal casings are non-biodegradable, contributing to environmental pollution.
Hazardous properties include toxicity (releasing heavy metals into the environment), corrosivity (damaging materials and living tissues), reactivity (some types can explode or catch fire), and persistence (metals accumulate in the environment and living organisms, causing long-term harm).

Generation rates are increasing due to rise in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage.
Annual consumption of batteries is high worldwide.
Recycling rates are low (less than 50%), leading to high landfill disposal.

Leaching of heavy metals contaminates soil and water.
Improper incineration causes air pollution.
Skin burns and respiratory problems can result from exposure to corrosive substances.

Advantages: Reduces environmental pollution, recovers valuable metals (lead, lithium, cobalt), generates economic value.
Disadvantages: High initial setup costs, limited infrastructure in some regions.

Advantages: Relatively low cost for implementation compared to recycling, simple to implement in areas without advanced facilities, short-term storage solution.
Disadvantages: Risk of leakage over time, causes long-term environmental contamination, occupies large amounts of land, does not recover valuable resources.

Economic Viability: Cost of implementation, operational expenses, and potential revenue from resource recovery.
Environmental Impact: Potential pollution reduction and sustainability of the solution.
Technological Requirements: Availability of advanced processes and skilled workforce.