Next time you buy a battery for your Walkman, portable hi-fi, calculator or watch, think about what effect the disposal of those batteries will have on the environment.
In a recent survey on waste in Hong Kong, it was estimated that the equivalent of 183 million AA batteries were consumed in territory each year. That is about 30 batteries a year per person.
Batteries contain toxic metals such as cadmium and mercury which pollute soil and water when they are dumped, and they can move up the food chain with health-damaging effects.
A battery is also very energy inefficient - it uses up to 50 times as much energy to make as it will ever deliver.
Batteries also contain caustic and corrosive chemicals.
So, what should you do if you want to avoid or reduce the hazards caused by batteries? Firstly, you should try to avoid conventional batteries by using mains electricity wherever possible - this is also cheaper and more energy efficient. If possible, look for solar powered calculators and watches.
