The battery law distinguishes between three basic types of batteries: Portable batteries, automotive batteries (also: starter batteries) and industrial batteries. Portable batteries are batteries that are encapsulated and can be held in the hand, but do not meet the requirements for automotive or industrial batteries.  This type class includes most small batteries that are usually freely available in stores, such as in AA (Mignon), AAA (Micro), 9-volt block, C (Baby), D (Mono), or button cell standards.

Batteries, also called primary batteries or disposable batteries, cannot be recharged. They provide primary or secondary power, respectively. Zinc, carbon and alkaline-manganese batteries are the main types of energy suppliers.  In contrast, rechargeable batteries are energy sources that can be recharged, such as lead, nickel, cadmium or lithium-ion batteries. They supply secondary current.

Household batteries are the following standard batteries for household use: 
Batteries: Alkaline, Lithium, Zinc (AAA micro, AA mignon, C baby, D mono, 9V)
Rechargeable batteries: AAA micro, AA mignon, C baby, D mono, 9V
Special batteries: Lithium Coin, Lithium Cylindrical, Alkaline Special, Silver Coin

In modern recycling plants, empty batteries are efficiently recycled, and their components returned to the production cycle.
Electric arc furnaces: Alkali-manganese & zinc-carbon batteries are melted down, resulting in recovery of zinc & steel.
Electric arc furnaces: Alkali-manganese & zinc-carbon batteries are melted down, resulting in formation of zinc, vitreous slag & iron-manganese (or ferromanganese, mainly for the production of iron alloys).
Secondary raw materials: e.g. for the construction of cars (steel), roads (slag), wheelbarrows (zinc), brake discs (iron-manganese or ferromanganese) or cell phones (cobalt, nickel).
Secondary raw materials also flow into the production of new batteries.

The three main components of a battery include the two electrodes (anode (negative terminal) and cathode (positive terminal)) and the electrolyte. The anode is often a metal, the cathode is a metal oxide, and the electrolyte is a solution that allows the flow of ions. In the alkaline manganese battery, the anode is zinc, the cathode is manganese dioxide and the electrolyte is caustic potash. In the rechargeable NiMH battery, the anode is a metal hydride (a metal alloy that stores hydrogen), the cathode is nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) and the electrolyte is also caustic potash.

Batteries are empty when the energy stored in them is used up. You will notice this when your device stops working. There are various applications that have different energy requirements. For this reason, there are different battery ranges to meet these requirements (VARTA Longlife, VARTA Longlife Power, VARTA Longlife Max Power). Applications with constant and low energy requirements are called low-drain devices (e.g. remote control, wall clocks, radios, digital scales). Applications with high energy requirements, e.g. digital cameras, instant cameras, blood pressure monitors, game consoles, drones, remote-controlled toys, computer accessories or LED flashlights are called high drain devices. If the batteries in a High Drain Device stop working, it does not immediately mean that the batteries are empty. To test whether the batteries are still working, the batteries are placed in a device with a low energy requirement (low-drain device). There is also a battery tester that provides information about the state of charge of the batteries.

Batteries and accumulators contain valuable raw materials, but sometimes also hazardous substances that can harm the environment. To prevent this and to be able to recover secondary raw materials, old and defective batteries must be disposed of separately. From the designated collection points in retail, municipalities and trade, the batteries are first sorted and then recycled. Sometimes empty batteries and rechargeable batteries still contain electrolytes that can have a corrosive effect. Therefore: Batteries have no place in household waste! In fact, this is so important that a law - the Battery Act - stipulates that old batteries and rechargeable batteries must be disposed of separately. To ensure that this is easy and problem-free, the battery manufacturers have a duty: they must ensure that everyone can dispose of their batteries and rechargeable batteries simply and easily. To do this, they then use the battery take-back systems, which make collection quite simple for all of us.

Old and defective batteries and rechargeable batteries can be returned free of charge wherever batteries are sold, e.g. in supermarkets, drugstores, electrical goods stores or DIY stores. Collection boxes are available for this purpose in retail stores. Municipal recycling centers also take back old batteries and rechargeable batteries. Other collection points can be found at commercial end users. Never throw batteries into a fire, as this can cause an explosion. Empty batteries, so-called used batteries, for electrical devices can be returned free of charge to designated collection boxes in supermarkets, electronic stores, drugstores and home improvement stores. These boxes are often located in the entrance area and near the cash registers. You can also hand in empty batteries free of charge at hazardous waste collection vehicles, municipal recycling centers and recycling yards. Here, the batteries are sorted in the recycling facilities and separated into their individual components for optimal recycling.
Attention:
For safety reasons, lithium batteries must be secured before disposal, e.g. by taping off the terminals. Batteries contained in electrical appliances must be disposed of separately from them.

Yes, the disposal of batteries is always free of charge. Old and defective batteries as well as rechargeable batteries can be returned free of charge wherever batteries are sold. Easy and safe collection: Distributors of batteries are obliged to take back batteries free of charge. Municipalities or public waste management authorities and treatment facilities for waste electrical equipment and end-of-life vehicles are also involved in the take-back of batteries.

As soon as batteries are damaged, there is a risk that they will leak. The leaking liquid is in most cases the so-called electrolyte as the central component of most batteries. This causes the chemical reaction and ensures that ions are transported in the batteries. When the alkali or acid leaks out, small crystals are formed. Therefore, when a battery leaks, people should use gloves. Afterwards, the residue can usually be easily removed. If some of the liquid does accidentally get on the hands, they should be washed thoroughly. Leaking batteries can also be handed in at the collection points as usual.

Collection: When the collection boxes at the collection points, for example at the supermarket, are full, they are picked up by a collection vehicle and taken to a sorting facility.
Sorting: Now the collected batteries are sorted according to size and ingredients. This is done manually, for example, or by means of electromagnetic processes, X-ray sensors, UV sensors or a combination of different techniques. This is necessary because - depending on the battery system and the ingredients of the different recycling processes are used.
Recycling: Old becomes new! The sorted batteries are sent to the recycling plant. There, valuable raw materials are recovered from the ingredients, which are used, for example, in the manufacture of cars, bed frames and cutlery. As so-called secondary raw materials, they naturally also flow into the production of new batteries. This reuse is called recycling.

When the battery is discharged, electrochemical reactions take place in both electrodes, which we explain here using the example of the alkaline manganese battery:
In the anode, zinc is oxidized to zinc oxide, and in the cathode, manganese dioxide (MnO2) is reduced to MnOOH. The anode reaction (oxidation) produces negative charges (electrons), which flow from the negative terminal of the battery through the wire and the load (e.g. the light bulb) to the positive terminal of the battery and are consumed again by the cathode reaction (reduction).
To balance the flow of charges described above, a second current must flow inside the battery. This current requires the battery fluid, the so-called electrolyte (in our example potassium hydroxide solution). The potassium hydroxide solution contains hydroxide ions (OH-), which flow from the cathode to the anode and thus close the circuit.
The current is generated in the battery by an electrochemical process that converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy. This process takes place between the anode, cathode and electrolyte, the three main components of a battery.

Whether empty or full: A battery always weighs the same! This is because during discharge, the electrons merely move from one pole to the other, but do not become less. Electricity therefore does not weigh anything in the usual sense.

Batteries must be stored in a cool, dry place. Avoid extremes of temperature, as these will significantly affect battery performance. Keep batteries in their original packaging until they are used to ensure protection against short circuits. Do not leave or store them in battery operated devices. Of course, you don't want to dispose of each battery immediately after use and take it to a collection point. Therefore, you can store the batteries at home and dispose of them properly afterwards. However, the following points should be considered during storage. Temperature: first of all, people should store the batteries in a cool and dry place. Direct sunlight should be avoided at all costs, otherwise batteries may leak or open. Attention: of course, the batteries should also not be stored in the refrigerator, as strong temperature differences can have a negative effect on the energy storage.

In addition to the separation from usual municipal waste, the correct collection and storage of used batteries is crucial, because incorrect storage can lead to short circuits. Especially with batteries containing the highly reactive metal lithium, this can lead to fires or even small explosions immediately or later. Consumers should therefore take the precaution of taping the terminals of lithium-containing batteries and rechargeable batteries and not expose them to great heat or water. Lithium-containing button cells are particularly dangerous. If you want to be on the safe side, store all empty batteries neatly separated from each other and layered in a box filled with sand until you take them away. If possible, batteries installed in electrical appliances should be removed and disposed of separately.