Battery information
About Alkaline Batteries
Did you know most everyday use batteries are alkaline[1]?
Older alkaline batteries contained Mercury which is harmful to the environment[2]. Mercury was phased out of alkaline batteries as part of the “Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act,” passed in 1996[2].
To be classified a hazardous waste, a battery must have one of four characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity[2]. The modern alkaline battery (manufactured post Battery Act) is considered non-toxic by the E.P.A. (Environmental Protection Agency) and does not exhibit the characteristics necessary to be classified as reactive or ignitable wastes[3]. Modern alkaline batteries do not contain any toxic materials such as mercury or cadmium, as classified under federal E.P.A. guidelines. Alkaline batteries are not considered an RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) regulated hazardous waste[4]. The electrolyte of an alkaline battery does not meet the definition of an aqueous solution or free liquid; therefore, they are not, by definition, a corrosive waste[4].
*Regulations may vary in your municipality or state so please check your local regulations.
About Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries must be recharged explicitly according to manufactures instructions. Using the incorrect power cord or power supply may result in shattered lamps, electric shock, and/or other damage to the device. obp does not use rechargeable batteries in any of our devices.
FAQ
All obp light sources within ER-SPEC, OFFICESPEC, HER-SPEC, ANOSPEC and SURE-SCOPE are powered by alkaline button batteries..
ER-SPEC, OFFICESPEC, HER-SPEC, ANOSPEC and SURE-SCOPE are designed to be disposed in their entirety after use. We recommend you check with your facility’s battery disposal policy prior to use.
Yes. Appropriate disposal technologies include incineration[8].
No.
HER-SPEC has been designed in such a way that the user can easily remove the batteries without risk of cross-contamination.
The Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 defines medical waste as any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals. This includes[9]:
– Items that are freely dripping liquid or semi-liquid blood or “potentially infectious materials” or could readily release infectious materials if compressed
– Items containing dried blood or “potentially infectious materials” that could release flakes if compressed or otherwise handled
– Human blood and blood products, including serum, plasma, and blood components
– Hemodialysis waste of all items that were in contact with the patient’s blood (tubing, filters, towels, gloves, aprons, lab coats) and any other contaminated disposable equipment)
– Human or animal isolation wastes (blood, excretion, exudates, secretions, and items contaminated with these) from humans or animals that have been isolated to protect others from communicable diseases
– Sharps waste
– Surgery or autopsy tissue, organs, or body parts (eg, adenoids, appendix, tonsils, amputated digits, hands, feet, arms or legs), also known as pathological wastes
Surgical and autopsy wastes (eg, soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, lavage tubes, drainage sets, underpads, and surgical gloves) that were in contact with infectious agents
– Cultures or stocks of any virus, bacterium or other organism including discarded live attenuated vaccines and the items used to transfer, inoculate or mix cultures
– Tissues, organs, body parts, bedding, carcasses, and body fluids from experimental animals that were exposed to infectious agents
– Teeth in dentistry
– Laboratory wastes that have been in contact with infectious wastes, including gloves, coats and aprons
– Discarded medical equipment and its components that have been in contact with infectious agents
– Any other discarded item or waste that an administrator believes poses a threat to human health or the environment
– Potentially infectious body fluids including:
– Amniotic fluids
– Blood and its components
– Cerebrospinal and synovial fluid
– Dialysate and dialysis waste
– Pericardial and pleural fluid
– Peritoneal
– Saliva in dental procedures
– Semen
– Vaginal secretions
Sources
- http://www.energizer.com/about-batteries/battery-faq
- http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/battery.htm
- https://www.nema.org/Policy/Environmental-Stewardship/Documents/Sound_Environmental_Management_10_01.pdf
- http://www.deq.utah.gov/Topics/General/PollutionPrevention/docs/2008/04Apr/Batteryfact.pdf
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_battery
- http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/alkalineminiature_psds.pdf
- http://www.stericycle.com/medical-waste-faqs
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