In our increasingly mobile world, batteries serve quite a purpose. They power our cars, portable electronics and items we use every day. Batteries can even be made out of vegetables.

Batteries are identified by the product they’re used for or its size. But for scientific purposes, batteries’ names are based on the metals they contain. Concerning disposal, the name can be helpful because it lets you know what elements are wrapped up in that cylindrical packaging.

Battery recycling is not a matter of possibility. It comes down to the efforts you’re willing to take. Rechargeable batteries last considerably longer than single-use 18650 batteries, so using those means less batteries for disposal.

All batteries have a finite life span, but there are steps you can take to prolong the life of your batteries. Alkaline batteries are used in everything from cameras and flashlights to remote controls.

If you talk to your local solid waste department, you may be instructed to put alkaline batteries in with your regular trash. If you’re unable to find a local recycling option, you can consider mail-in recycling programs. They are also accepted for recycling at all batteries plus locations.

If you do decide to put alkaline batteries in the trash, as in most cases this is legal, you can take extra steps to prevent leaking such as: putting multiple batteries in the same plastic bag;securing the ends of each battery with masking tape.

Ni-Mh batteries are the inexpensive rechargeable form of alkaline batteries. They can be recharged hundreds of times to avoid disposing of batteries and are, for the most, part interchangeable with alkalines.

One little known fact about Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries is that part of the built-in price is to cover proper disposal. Due to the presence of the toxic metal cadmium, these batteries are considered hazardous waste and are not allowed in landfills.

In the case of both batteries, recycling involves using heat to separate the high temperature metals, such as nickel and iron, from the low temperature ones, like zinc and cadmium. Some of the metals solidify after they melt, while others are reprocessed as metal oxides. These metals all have value.