Recycling Compaq Laptop Batteries
Posted on December 5th, 2011 in News | Comments Off
While a pile of old computer equipment might appear unsightly, the most frightening aspect of that pile has nothing to do with its appearance. The batteries in any of the laptop computers contain a dangerous substance. They contain cadmium. Cadmium is not the sort of chemical that should be seeping into the soil. That fact underlines the importance of the emerging recycling programs. Still, there are far too people who are aware of such programs. The following article about recycling Compaq laptop batteries hopes to fill the void in the published and posted information about recycled laptop batteries.
Laptop computers run on the energy from dry cell batteries. Compaq batteries can be recycled. The recycling of Compaq laptop batteries passes through its initial phase at a Recycled Battery Recovery Center (RBRC).
If you have some laptop batteries that you would like to see recycled, you can take them to an RBRC. Do not, however, walk into such a Center carrying an automobile battery. Any sort of wet cell battery must go to an automobile battery retailer, or to a service shop, if it is supposed to be recycled.
Do not try taking a group of alkaline batteries into an RBRC. Alkaline batteries can not be recycled. A recycling center would not have a place for the storage of alkaline batteries. A recycling center has set aside space for storage of the following batteries.
Nickel cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd) can undergo recycling at a recycling center. If you take the time to carry some Ni-Cd batteries to a recycling center then you are helping to save the environment. Cadmium is a poisonous substance. A Ni-Cd battery needs to be recycled, and should not be disposed of.
Nickel metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH) can be recharged. If you have electrical equipment that runs on such batteries, then you should take the “dead” batteries to a collection center. Lithium ion batteries can also be recharged. They too need to be taken to a collection center. Authorities at the collection center then set in motion the various steps of the recharging process.
The reprocessing of dry cell batteries demands the availability of a thermal recovery system. When a recycling center has such a system, then that center can reclaim numerous metals from the collected, dry batteries. The thermal recovery process allows for a reclaiming of nickel, iron, cadmium, lead and cobalt. The reclaimed metals are then used in both new batteries and stainless steel.
Non profit organizations in larger cities often set aside a time when they agree to accept old batteries. If, however, you do not live in a big city, then you probably need to send your old batteries to the correct location.
If you send your dry batteries to the above address, then those batteries will be recycled. If you send your dry batteries to the above address, then you will keep those batteries out of your local landfill. So far hundreds of thousands of laptop users have elected to send their batteries to a recycling center. They have thus managed to keep more than 5.6 million pounds of rechargeable batteries away from any landfill within the United States.
The makers of laptop computers and the makers of Compaq batteries are pleased to take part in the scheduled, battery recycling process. The makers of Compaq batteries and the makers of laptop computers have posted on their websites detailed information about the collection and reprocessing of dry cell batteries. Please take the time to read that information.