The environmental benefits associated with using rechargeable batteries and recycling after use include less pressure on natural resources, less pollution from the manufacturing process, less waste created and less carbon emissions resulting from transport and distribution, due to a decrease in the quantity of products being manufactured. Research by UNIROSS (2007) has supported this by showing that throughout their life cycle rechargeable batteries have 32 times less impact on the environment than disposable batteries.
Better Batteries also aims to increase battery recycling rates in the UK, in line with government regulation. In 2009 only 10% of batteries were recycled in the UK and in February 2010 regulation was put in place requiring this to increase to 18% in 2011, and 45% by 2016. Recycling batteries is crucial to reuse finite natural resources and prevent the release of harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury or cadmium.
"Broadway theatre productions already using rechargeable batteries have made significant financial savings, after being encouraged to use rechargeable battery systems by a highly successful Broadway Green Alliance campaign," says the company. "The production of Wicked on Broadway has been using nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries since October 2008 and, since then, has made savings of over $4,300 (£2,600) per year, replacing a turnover of 15,808 disposable batteries per year (38 per show) to a tiny 76 rechargeable batteries per year. The West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre followed suit in June 2011 and expects to break even on the purchase of their rechargeable battery system 15 weeks after they began using it (mid-September). So far they've saved purchasing over 2,500 batteries, equivalent to more than £500."
Organisations, companies and individuals can sign up to Better Batteries via the campaign website, where information and advice to assist them switch to recharging and recycling their batteries is freely available.
Sian Alexander, associate director of theatre at Julie's Bicycle, said: "Rechargeable batteries make financial and environmental sense, and as our case studies show, they're completely reliable. If they can work for a major West End show there's no reason we can't use them across the theatre and music industries. I hope this campaign will help to encourage a widespread shift in practice."
Susan Sampliner, company manager of the Broadway company of Wicked and co-chair of the Broadway Green Alliance, said: "With the help of our sound department, Wicked led the way for the Broadway community to keep batteries out of landfill. By using rechargeable sleds, and devising a rotation method as part of preshow maintenance, we were able to eliminate single-usage of AA-sized batteries for our wireless microphones. And when sound engineers around town were skeptical that rechargeable batteries could meet the needs of a Broadway show, and reliably hold an adequate charge, our sound engineers were able to show them empirical evidence that they not only could do the job, but could save their employers a considerable amount of money as a result. We are proud that we were able to set the example three years ago, and we continue to assist shows in NY and around the world in making the same trans
