Action for Future

Growing up in an era where both the earth and environmental issues are hotter than ever, I have been taught to be aware of and responsible for the environment. I knew by heart the 3R rule, remember to utilize personal bottles rather than one-time plastic bottles, tote bags instead of plastic bags, to have a separate bin for recycling trash, and to use public transportation frequently. I feel that I can help save the environment by using smartly and handling used things around me.

However, I soon realized that there is a familiar product used by people of all ages, with multi-purpose and high-intensity usage, as well as being harmful if not handled correctly after usage: batteries of all kinds. From the regular AAA battery in TV remotes to huge automotive batteries in cars and even button cell batteries in cameras small electronics are frequently used and their battery life still ends and needs replacement. If not handled correctly, this waste may cause soil contamination, water pollution, or even cause human exposure to toxic metals.

Hazardous as it is, what normal residents can do turns out simple, as battery waste needs proper treatment at the recycling centers. The authorities have designated drop-off points or collection centers for the purpose. What we need to do is simply collect ours and drop them off there. However, I found out that most people around me did not know about this fact, and they were confused about what to do with this kind of waste, as throwing away the garbage and burying it in the soil did not seem to be right.

With my design, I hope to raise more awareness among people about handling used batteries the easiest way by bringing them to the recycling center to give them a new life, without causing any harm to the environment. As batteries are everyday products, each of us must know how to recycle properly.