Why do we have to bring batteries to a specific place to recycle them instead of just being able to throw them out/recycle them at home?
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Common batteries, like AAA and AA, can be thrown out in the trash. There’s very little in them that will harm anything.
Lithium batteries should be brought to a recycling center, because it’s fairly dangerous to transport them. If they get damaged it can cause a lithium fire, and that spreads all kinds of toxic crap, as well as being hard to put out.
Car batteries contain lead, acid, and some other toxic and reactive crap, *and* if you bring it back when you buy a new one, you’ll usually get some money back, because car battery makers need the material to make new batteries. Last I checked, they were worth $15 to $18 each.
Old EV batteries are worth hundreds of dollars, because the material they’re made of is rare and expensive, and they’re heavy as all hell. Your trash guys aren’t going to take those anyway.
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