Rechargeables have the edge - environmentally

Abstract

There is a huge and growing demand for small batteries in Australia to power all manner of electronic equipment from portable CD players to toys. Many batteries are simply thrown in the local rubbish bin when flat but there is also a growing demand for re-chargeables. Users can buy either numerous throw-away batteries or a small number of re-chargeables and a battery charger. Studies of the environmental consequences of each of these two alternatives using life cycle analysis techniques show that the re-chargeable option is far preferable from both an environmental and an economic point of view.