Quote:
Originally Posted by dhbailey
One would HOPE they would dispose of the dead batteries in a responsible fashion, but then one would have hoped that the chemical companies responsible for the Love Canal horror would have disposed of their chemicals responsibly.
There is nothing inherent in a battery replacement company which de facto guarantees that they will be environmentally safe in the handling of the dead batteries.
Most probably will, but some will just place them in their dumpsters along with their soda cans and lunch leftovers.
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Apple already has a used laptop battery pickup program. Such a service is an OSHA controlled task. If I remember correctly, a good part of the batteries is recycled. As you say a concentration of the toxic substances in one spot is dangerous if left unprocessed for long periods. But compared to personnal ways of disposal, gathering up material for processing will be easyer, that is if not done immediately.
Love Canal was a heavy lesson. Most of the chemicals stored there still have no commercial use; they were byproducts. They could be destroyed but who'll fork the costs? Nuclear wastes face the same problems, most of them could be recycled up to 90% but no one wants to pay for it.
As you imply we rely on money obsessed entities to do the
right thing. I still trust governmental agencies to force decency on companies more than the careless people around us.