by Tim Wade, IATSE Safety Chair

In our lifetime, we are and will continue to be witness to many important technological enhancements and changes that affect both our workplace and home environments. For example, medicine has advanced to a point where magnetic resonance imaging (mri) allows doctors to make more informed diagnoses based upon high quality images of the inside of the human body. The space program has provided improvements to our lives such as "Velcro". Often we take these things for granted and never fully appreciate their importance as we go about our daily routines.

One such item that we use without a second thought is the battery operated unit. Batteries are something we come in contact with on a daily basis. Whether we are working on a live theater production, arena venue productions, sound stages or at home, batteries are items that we come in contact with on daily basis. We use batteries in flashlights, portable CD units, cell phones, laptop computers, hand power tools and the list goes on.

There are many different types of batteries that make our lives easier- alkaline batteries, lead acid, lithium, lithium ion, nickel-admium nickel metal hydride & zinc air batteries, just to name a few. Often, when the batteries are exhausted and no longer of service to us, we merely dispose of them by tossing them in the regular trash. Whereas on one hand, we are doing the correct thing by making our home or workplace less cluttered, we might be adding contaminates back into the soil.

Batteries contain various metals and chemical compounds. These components are highly toxic and can contaminate groundwater if improperly disposed of. After a few years of decomposing in a landfill, the chemicals can leech out of the batteries and enter the groundwater system. The most effective way to dispose of batteries is through recycling. Whereas each type of battery is composed of different metal and chemical components, the electrolytes can be neutralized; the heavy metals can be recovered by disassembly, shredding and/or hammer-mill or pyrometallurgical processes. In this way, the metals and plastics found in batteries as well as off gasses that are created during the recycling process can be captured and used again and again.

Simple recycling can responsibly minimize the negative environmental impact.
Our awareness should not stop with batteries. We should also consider other recyclable items such as latex paints, thinners, solvents, pesticides and other chemicals. Dumping these items into the city sewer systems creates more problems for the ecology and more often than not, will end up in our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams which can also contribute to ground water and can further contribute to ground water contamination.

There are many programs designed for the collection of hazardous materials. In Hollywood, the major studios have designated collection points for hazardous waste. Many States, cities, townships and universities have already started their own collection programs.

It is our responsibility to protect our environment and to give our children the opportunity to enjoy a life free of environment harm, a life that they can enjoy as we have. If you would like further information on how you can help with this problem, please check out the web site for your local government and see if they have collection sites designated for disposal of hazardous materials. If not, you may want to urge them to create one. One great web site you should explore is the Environmental Protection Agency web pages located at http://www.epa.gov.

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