ENGLISH

Running head: RECYCLING USED SMARTPHONE BATTERIES 1

RECYCLING USED SMARTPHONE BATTERIES 4

Disposing and Recycling Used Smartphone Batteries

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Disposing and Recycling Used Smartphone Batteries

The process that needs explanation and instruction

Since the invention of mobile communication devices, there has been no clear manual and instruction on how the used batteries in such devices should be disposed of or re-used. The batteries in the market are rechargeable and made of lithium-ion. They contain precious metals that are reusable and can be recycled. The crucial components in the cells are nickel, aluminium, and copper components. What most mobile users don't understand is the best way in which to dispose of the batteries. Most users dispose of them into the environment, and they end up being environmental hazards. Others keep them in their houses, and that exposes the users to dangers of an explosion. According to Smedley (2014), only about 5% of the Lithium-ion batteries sold in 2010 were collected for recycling in that year, across the European Union. There is a need to create a clear manual on how users can dispose of used smartphone batteries to avoid causing environmental pollution and make the components in the batteries useful.

Impact of the process on mobile phone users and manufacturers

The process of recycling smartphone batteries is useful to both phone users and manufacturers. To the users, delivering the batteries for recycling reduces the health risks they pose when stored in the house or dumped into the environment. Some are corrosive, while others are explosive. To the manufacturers, recycling the batteries offers a rich source of these minerals. According to Smedley (2014), the amount of precious metals found in the batteries is about 100 times more than what is found on the ground. Therefore, recycling them proves economical to manufacturers who need these materials to continue making batteries.

The research to be conducted

The students need to research on the process involved in recycling the batteries. According to Smedley (2014), the metals are recovered in a high-temperature process that combines them as an alloy. In most cases, the method uses plastic casing as a source of fuel. Students should research a well-outlined manual for recycling the used batteries and the process that users should follow to deliver the used batteries for recycling. Many phone manufacturers don't have recycling programs, and most of their used batteries are disposed into the environment, posing a danger. If users understand the process involved, they will be encouraged to deliver their used batteries for recycling while manufacturers will have a sure way to handle the used batteries.

Existing information and documentation on the process

Despite there being some information about recycling used smartphone batteries, there is limited documentation that incorporates both the process of collecting the used batteries and the recycling procedure. Even on the batteries, there is usually limited information of how the user can submit it for recycling, how the recycling occurs, etc. if that information is clearly outlined in a manual, any other recycling plant can take up the role, not necessarily the parent manufacturer, who might not be interested in the recycling process. The process of recycling used batteries is underexploited (Smedley, 2014). There is a need to develop guidelines on the process to make it possible for many firms to conduct it.

Key stakeholders to be impacted by the manual

The manual developed would be useful to both mobile phone users and manufacturers. The users will benefit from reduced risks posed by the used batteries while the manufacturers will gain from re-using the precious metals. Besides, such measures would help conserve the environment by lowering the dumping of electronics-related waste.

Placement and distribution of the manual

Once developed, the manual should be sent to phone manufacturing companies. The companies should also establish the manuals and issue a copy to phone buyers. Besides, the manufactures should share the same information on their websites for easy access by interested parties. Such measures would result in a safe and clean environment.

References

Smedley, T. (2014). “Why recycling smartphone batteries is vital for sustainability.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/recycling-smartphone-batteries-vital-sustainability