Recycling Batteries

To the Editor:

I am a seventh grader that attends Newtown Middle School. My science teacher assigned my class to do a project on the environment. In the project, you are required to do something that helps the environment.

I decided to do my project on why people should recycle batteries. When I did research on my topic, I found a website that listed centers that recycled batteries. My goal in this project is to try to make the people in Newtown aware of the centers that are in Newtown. I think people in Newtown should be aware of the centers because if they know about the centers then they would recycle them. This would cause less harm to the environment.

When people throw away their batteries they end up in the landfills where they shouldn’t be. Batteries contain harmful substances, such as mercury and lead. Batteries are flammable. If a persons’ garbage has batteries in it and is taken to be burnt, then the batteries will explode when it is burned. It is much safer if batteries are recycled.

In the United States the ratio for homeowners recycling their batteries is very low. Ninety-eight percent of all lead acid batteries are recyclable. When people recycle batteries, then it reduces the amount of lead that gets into the environment and health risks.

I think people take batteries for granted. I think people shouldn’t take batteries for granted because batteries do so many wonderful things for us. Sooner or later the Earth will run out of lead for humans to use to make things such as batteries. If people start recycling batteries now, we will be able to reduce the amount of lead used and not waste the supply of lead that is left. If we don’t start recycling batteries then the Earth will eventually run out of lead. Without lead we won’t have things such as electric wheel chairs, electric fork lifts, and industrial vehicles. Without these things, life would be very different and more difficult.

It is very important for people not only in Newtown to be educated about recycling batteries because we can help the environment. Also, it can help reduce health risks caused by trashing batteries. This is a problem which can be avoided if we just recycle batteries.

I hope you and your staff at The Newtown Bee will acknowledge my letter and together help the people of Newtown aware of the centers that we have. If my goal is accomplished, then it would be a small step to help the environment.

Sincerely,

Erin Mukwaya

15 Fawnwood Road, Sandy Hook                                    May 26, 2003