# Uses for old batteries **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321 "2006-02-13T19:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/1 "2006-02-13T19:40:48Z")
I take my trash to a dump. The local landfill has a large colletion area for recycling. There are bins fror all sorts of stuff. I will get to the other bins on another thread. One of them is a batterie bin. I would have to say it usually contains about 1000+lbs of old household batteries. I can not stop thinking everytime I see it that there must be a use for these. Or that there is a valuble substance inside them. Yea I know there are dangers involved with opening them up but could anyone tell me if there is something I can use this large hord of batteries for. Either removing the metals/chemical inside them or any other fun experiement. And the best way of opening them. Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/2 "2006-02-13T19:54:56Z")
I wouldn’t. Well, _I_ would (and have), but I don’t really recommend it. The chemicals inside are potentially corrosive and usually messy, and nothing in there is generally worth much. The shells of alkaline batteries are generally zinc, but the metals in most other battery types aren’t in any kind of useable form. If you absolutely insist on cutting some open anyway, use caution and wear rubber gloves at the very least, and eye protection probably is a good idea in case you spatter the chemicals inside. A hacksaw works pretty well to cut them open, or a Dremel with the cutoff wheels. Also put down plenty of newspaper or a plastic tarp–when I say it’s messy, I mean it. ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/3 "2006-02-13T21:13:19Z")
Discarded batteries usually have some juice left in them. 9 volt batteries are nice because the male and female terminals snap together easily. Plugging together a “brick” of a few dozen old 9-volts will create a DC power supply with enough “ooomph” to knock you on your ass. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/4 "2006-02-13T21:21:46Z")
Batteries are collected separately not necessarily to reclaim materials but to avoid putting dangerous chemicals into a landfill. I’m not sure if conventional and alkaline batteries fall into this category but I believe there are issues with lithium-ion batteries and button batteries. I don’t know how they are disposed of properly. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/5 "2006-02-13T21:37:44Z")
Many places have battery recycling programs, which they encourage people to use. The place I work now does. You might look into whether your employer or town has such a program. The really old batteries used to be useful for chemistry experiments. As my Golden Book of Chemistry told me, you disassembled the battery and got a central rod of graphite (good for making electrodes), a disk of zinc from each end (good for various experiments) and an interior paste that was mostly manganese dioxide. All these pieces were used in various experiments. DON’T TRY THIS WITH MODERN BATTERIES. The guts have all been changed completely. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/6 "2006-02-13T21:50:47Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The really old batteries used to be useful for chemistry experiments. As my Golden Book of Chemistry told me, you disassembled the battery and got a central rod of graphite (good for making electrodes), a disk of zinc from each end (good for various experiments) and an interior paste that was mostly manganese dioxide. All these pieces were used in various experiments. DON’T TRY THIS WITH MODERN BATTERIES. The guts have all been changed completely. Carbon-zinc cells and batteries are still readily available. If you want good-sized carbon rods such as you might use to make an electric arc furnace, get a 12 or 6 V lantern non-alkaline battery of the type labelled “Heavy Duty”. Be warned: the black manganese dioxide paste WILL stain clothing and skin. Definitely wear gloves. ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/7 "2006-02-14T01:00:31Z")
In [Rod](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inanimate_Carbon_Rod) We Trust! ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/8 "2006-02-14T13:26:32Z")
Just a few days ago it was made illegal here to put used batteries in the trash. Yeah, right. I go thru double a’s like crazy due to two small kids and too plastic noisy toys. But, it was in the paper and also a letter from Waste Mgmt that batteries must now be brought to a hazardous waste disposal and are not to be thrown away. What a freakin’ pain in the ass! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/9 "2006-02-14T13:46:39Z")
It’s been illegal to put batteries in landfills here for many years. Wisconsin has a habit of outlawing dispossal of thing and not providing the alternative dispossal method. This leds the stuff dumped on public lands instead. It’s not like you can pull precious substances out of batteries, to sell. Put them in the battery bin to keep the toxins out of the water table. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/10 "2006-02-14T13:57:49Z")
> [@RSSchen](#): > > Just a few days ago it was made illegal here to put used batteries in the trash. > > Yeah, right. I go thru double a’s like crazy due to two small kids and too plastic noisy toys. > > But, it was in the paper and also a letter from Waste Mgmt that batteries must now be brought to a hazardous waste disposal and are not to be thrown away. > > What a freakin’ pain in the ass! Allow me to introduce you to a wonderful new invention: the rechargeable battery. According to another recent thread here, you can even get solar-powered chargers for them. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/11 "2006-02-14T14:00:52Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Allow me to introduce you to a wonderful new invention: the rechargeable battery. According to another recent thread here, you can even get solar-powered chargers for them. Yeah, rechargeables are totally ready for prime time. I can’t even count how many I must have saved by using rechargeables. The only thing is you need to make sure you have a good recharger where you can safely leave the batteries in long-term, and make sure you always have some “in the chamber” so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/12 "2006-02-15T01:41:01Z")
> [@Harmonious Discord](#): > > It’s been illegal to put batteries in landfills here for many years. Wisconsin has a habit of outlawing dispossal of thing and not providing the alternative dispossal method. This leds the stuff dumped on public lands instead. It’s not like you can pull precious substances out of batteries, to sell. Put them in the battery bin to keep the toxins out of the water table. Are you sure you are discussing alkaline and not Nicads? From the [Duracell](http://www.duracell.com/care_disposal/disposal.asp?id=62&) website > [@](#): > > ``` > General Purpose & Alkaline Batteries > > Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. Due to concerns about mercury in the municipal solid waste stream, Duracell has voluntarily eliminated all of the added mercury from its alkaline batteries since 1993 — while maintaining the performance you demand. Our alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals — steel, zinc and manganese — and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal. > > ``` > > It is important not to dispose of large amounts of alkaline batteries in a group. Used batteries are often not completely “dead.” Grouping used batteries together can bring these “live” batteries into contact with one another, creating safety risks. From the [Energizer](http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/CZn%20Alkaline_disp.pdf) website (PDF!) > [@](#): > > Energizer carbon zinc and standard alkaline batteries are United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) non-hazardous waste… > Scrap carbon zince and standard alkaline batteries are not hazardous waste and are not regulated by the United States Department of Transportation DOT as hazardous materials (Underlining in original) Nicads on the other hand contain cadium which is a hazardous waste material. [Here is a paget that discusses Nicads](http://members.tripod.com/~humboldtstandard/batterydisposal.html) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/13 "2006-02-15T01:46:53Z")
> [@Harmonious Discord](#): > > It’s been illegal to put batteries in landfills here for many years. Wisconsin has a habit of outlawing dispossal of thing and not providing the alternative dispossal method. This leds the stuff dumped on public lands instead. It’s not like you can pull precious substances out of batteries, to sell. Put them in the battery bin to keep the toxins out of the water table. :eek: :eek: I’m in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/14 "2006-02-15T02:03:14Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Are you sure you are discussing alkaline and not Nicads? You’re absolutely right, **Rick** , but lately it seems like more and more jurisdictions are just saying to recycle ALL batteries, regardless of chemistry. Probably because most of the time when you give people a choice, they make the wrong one. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/15 "2006-02-15T02:30:13Z")
A few used D cells in an old tube sock make a wonderful addition to any blanket party. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-old-batteries/344321/16 "2006-02-15T05:54:07Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > You’re absolutely right, **Rick** , but lately it seems like more and more jurisdictions are just saying to recycle ALL batteries, regardless of chemistry. Probably because most of the time when you give people a choice, they make the wrong one. :smack: Not going to get an arguement out of me on that one. Too much ignorance and not enough dopers.