Waste Battery Recycling Program Ethan Pham. MBA, PhD Student Walden University HUMN /PUBH 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 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 ) which has the generic name listed in the discarded chemical products list, WAC ; (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 ; (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 , unless the containers or inner liners are empty as described in WAC (2); Source: apps

EPA Regulation What Are the Waste Management Requirements for Small Quantity Handlers of Universal Waste Batteries? 40 CFR (a)40 CFR (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: Environme ntal Health Retails business store Household members Recycle companies Federal and local governmen t

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 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 Adeq(2010).Universal Waste - Used Batteries Environmental Factsheet.12/22/2010 Retrieved from ersal%20Waste%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Used%20Batteries.pdf EPA(2011) Batteries Docstor(2011). Recycling of lead acid battery waste both from mining and other.01/16/2011 retrieved from both-from-mining-and-other. both-from-mining-and-other Ehso(2010)Environment, Health and Safety Online.01/12/2011 retrieved from