AA battery types, ranked by cost efficiency and environmental impact
lifespAN
voltAge/cHemistrY cost/feAtures compAred to recommeNdAtioN
AlkAliNe/mAH*
2
$3.00/excellent for continuous-use and
1.2v rechargeable Hybrid NimH/
intermittent applications (and cameras),
65-90%
nickel-metal hydride
self-discharges slowly, 500+ recharges,
1800-2700mAh ·····
varying capacities*
3
$2.00/excellent for continuous-use
1.2v rechargeable NimH/
applications (and cameras), 500+ re-
65-90%
nickel-metal hydride
charges, self-discharges quickly, varying
1800-2900mAh ·····
capacities*
1
1.5v Alkaline/zinc-manganese
$.50/ good for intermittent and high-
100%
dioxide voltage applications (not cameras), 2850mAh ··
single use, long shelf-life
1.5v lithium (not lithium-ion)
$2.50/good for cameras, single use,
200% ·
extra long shelf-life, health hazards
2900mAh
1.2v rechargeable Nicad/ $1.75/multiple recharges, loses ability to
33%
nickel-cadmium hold charge, health hazards
500-1100mAh
1.5v general purpose or Heavy
$.20/poor performance, single use, 25-33%
duty/zinc-carbon or zinc-chloride
prone to leaking and corrosion 400-1500mAh
*1 NiMH batteries vary in capacity, from 1800-2900mAh. *3 NiMH hybrids are often labeled “precharged,” with
*2 mAh stands for milliamp hours, a measurement of battery ca- high-tech names like Eneloop, Imedion and Hybrio.
pacity, with higher numbers representing a longer battery charge.
LoweR voLTAge LIMITATIoNS: Some battery-powered facilities for recycling alkaline batteries, so they go directly
devices simply won’t work with NiMH batteries because of to the landfill. However, all rechargeable batteries can
their lower voltage rating. Alkalines may be required. and should be recycled so their basic components can be
reused. Here in the Valley of the Sun, we can recycle our
dead batteries (including rechargeable toys, tools, phones
New TeCHNoLogIeS: there are several new variations
and gadgets) at Batteries Plus, RadioShack, Verizon Wire-
on single-use and rechargeable AA battery technology,
less, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Target… so you just ran out
including Quantaray, Oxyride and rechargeable alkaline, all
of excuses for not recycling them.
claiming bigger and better results over their predecessors.
Americans purchase about 3 billion batteries every
However there is no consensus on their effectiveness, so we
year, creating 180,000 tons of landfill. Let’s say that one
have focused here on products that have been well-tested.
billion of those are alkaline AA batteries. If all of those
alkalines were replaced by rechargeable NiMH batteries,
do sometHiNg good for
we would only need to purchase two million AA batteries,
potentially reducing landfill waste by 48,000 tons a year!
tHe eNviroNmeNt
Finally, a chemistry lesson we can use!
Most dry cell batteries—including all alkaline batteries
manufactured after 1986—do not qualify as hazardous David Wells is a partner in OneSolar, a community-minded,
waste, but all of them contain chemicals and metals that Green Energy Systems consultancy, helping Phoenix-area
can harm our environment. Both nickel-cadmium (NiCad) homeowners sensibly reduce their energy needs and move
and lithium batteries have toxic chemicals in them, and towards energy independence. Take the Test to learn how
must be recycled to neutralize those elements. the government and utilities will pay you to Go Green at
In most areas, due to cost inefficiencies, there are no
www.OneSolar.org, or call 623-535-0744.
Pr i n t e d o n re c y c l e d Pa P e r t o Pr o t e c t t h e en v i r o n m e n t
April 2009 13
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