Responsible Recycling of Two Way Radio Batteries

Be a responsible global citizen and do your part to protect the environment by recycling your rechargeable two-way radio batteries, unless you want coal in your stocking this year. In this article, we talk about the three types of batteries that are typically used in two-way radios and explain why it's essential to not throw these batteries away in the trash. More importantly, we tell you how to dispose of them properly, so you don't have to be a complete jerk to the environment.

Get the Most from Your Two-Way Radio Batteries There are steps you can take to get the most life from your lithium-ion (Li-Ion), nickel cadmium (Ni-Cad) or Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) two-way radio batteries. This includes not leaving them plugged into the charger and keeping them away from heat. However, over time a rechargeable battery will begin to degrade and lose its charging power. When it comes time to replace your walkie-talkie radio batteries, don't just throw the old ones away!

Walkie-Talkie Rechargeable Batteries and Toxins In the case of Ni-MH and Ni-Cad batteries, they contain toxins that can be harmful and have a serious environmental impact if they enter into the solid waste stream. With Ni-Cad batteries, cadmium is a toxin and the U.S. government regulates the disposal of this type of battery. Cadmium can escape from the battery and cause both environmental and health issues. Ni-MH batteries have mild toxins and in certain states like New York, it is illegal to dispose of them in the trash. With Li-ion batteries, the metals used in their manufacture (cobalt, nickel, iron and copper) are not intrinsically hazardous, but there is a significant problem with the sheer number of them that end up every year in landfills. In Europe, there is more aggressive recycling of Li-ion batteries, because it is believed that the metals can, over time, contaminate water supplies.

Recycle Two-Way Radio Batteries - It's Easy! Fortunately, it is very easy to recycle two-way radio batteries. Major two-way radio manufacturers like Motorola are in partnership with Call2Recycle. They're funded by portable electronics and rechargeable battery manufacturers. This non-profit organization was founded in 1994, and it is the largest battery recycling program in the U.S. This group collects and recycles all kinds of batteries, including rechargeable batteries, at no cost for consumers or businesses. In their first 20 years, they've been responsible for collecting and recycling more than 100 million pounds of batteries and cellphones, keeping them out of landfills and giving them a second life as new batteries and other consumer products. To find drop-off locations for batteries, visit them at call2recycle.org and enter your zip code for a list of locations near you. There are more than 34,000 battery recycling drop-off locations, including some of the nation's largest national retailers, making it easy to dispose of your old rechargeable batteries.

The explosion of portable hand-held devices like two-way radios, cell phones and other essential devices puts an enormous burden on the environment and threatens the health and well-being of future generations. However, with responsible environmental stewardship, we can reverse that dangerous trend. When you recycle rechargeable batteries from your two-way radios, your small contribution can have a big positive impact.