I am 50 and just learned batteries should not go in the trash

I live in Hanoi. Today, while handling paperwork at the Trang Tien Ward People's Committee, I noticed a bin for collecting expired and damaged batteries. I had never heard of such collection points before. Due to a lack of information, I doubt I'm the only one.

For years, I threw used batteries from watches, computer mice, TV remotes, and air conditioners into household trash, sometimes leaving them at a nearby garbage site or even tossing them onto the street. I had seen the warning labels advising against this, but I never understood why or where to dispose of them properly.

Only after researching did I realize the serious health risks posed by improperly discarded batteries. They contain toxic chemicals like mercury, cadmium, and lead. Once these chemicals seep into soil and water, they can cause long-term pollution, harm plants, reduce agricultural productivity, and even affect human health.

Three batteries. Illustration photo by Pexels

A single discarded battery can pollute 500 liters of clean water and one cubic meter of soil for 50 years. If every person in the world threw away one battery per month, that would total 84 billion batteries a year. The mercury in batteries can harm the brain, kidneys, and reproductive system. It also increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. Clearly, the damage from improper battery disposal is severe.

Yet, despite living in a major city and having a good education, I never knew battery collection points existed in Hanoi. That is partly due to my own ignorance but also because there is little public information about them. I am not alone in this.

Curious, I asked my wife, a doctor, and our two university-age children. I also asked my friends, colleagues, and neighbors. None of them knew about battery collection points in Hanoi either. Searching online, I found that while some collection bins exist, they are rare and not widely known.

This issue is even more pronounced outside city centers. Many people still dispose of used batteries with household trash, unaware of the harm. Hazardous waste disposal, especially for batteries, is an overlooked issue in Vietnam, despite its long-term impact on health and the environment. This is not just a personal oversight; it is a community problem.

Low public awareness about battery disposal exposes a major gap in environmental education, particularly regarding hazardous waste. Stronger public communication is needed.

Frequent awareness campaigns should be accessible and regularly updated. Battery collection bins must be placed in easy-to-spot locations like supermarkets, malls, hospitals, and schools. Government agencies, environmental groups, and battery manufacturers must collaborate to educate people and fund disposal programs. More importantly, collection points need to extend beyond cities into rural and remote areas. Changing public habits regarding hazardous waste requires consistent and strong messaging from both authorities and the public.