Many believe batteries are good for the environment because they save energy and electricity. Although these are valid points, the process involved in lithium-ion mining has a huge negative impact on Earth and accelerates global warming.
Lithium is a chemical named after the Greek word meaning “stone". Lithium is a very soft, silvery-white metal and the least dense element. It is a major component of the manufacturing process of batteries in electronics and electric vehicles.
Lithium-ion is a non-renewable resource and has been nicknamed "the futures oil".
Something most don't know is the dark truth behind how these batteries are produced through lithium mining. The process of extracting lithium uses significant amounts of water and energy while polluting nearby air, waterways, and soil, disrupting wildlife and causing erosion and depletion of natural resources.
The first step of the intensive mining process is clearing a mining site, which involves the destruction of natural habits, and contributes to deforestation and land erosion. Additionally, the extraction of lithium requires large amounts of energy, which is primarily generated from fossil fuels.This leads to the emission of greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.
Another problem is where these mining factories are located and the massive amount of land these sites take up. With the United States being a big contributor to the consumption of lithium-ion, they only produce a small, about 1%, of the world's lithium. With Australia, China, and Chile producing over 90% of the world's lithium this leads to international distribution, adding to global warming.
Lithium-ion batteries consist of single or multiple lithium-ion cells installed in an electronic device with a circuit board. The lithium ions move between the other electrodes internally, while the electrons move in the opposite direction. This interaction powers the device by creating the necessary electrical current.
With the growing increase and popularity of electric vehicles (EV's) lithium-ion mining and usage are in high demand and American automakers cannot keep up with the demand. Companies such as Tesla, General Motors, Ford, and more will need tons of thousands of lithium-ion supplies to meet the growing demand.
EVs are a great invention to help global warming for many reasons such as saving fossil fuels and cutting down on emissions and greenhouse gases.
However, the lithium-ion batteries used to power them are harmful to the environment in the long run, especially the production and disposal of lithium-ion.
The disposal of lithium-ion batteries or any batteries that contain toxic materials are to be disposed of in a certified battery electronics recycler that accepts batteries rather than being discarded in the trash or put in municipal recycling bins.
When batteries are thrown into regular trash they can leak corrosive and toxic materials that leak into the soil and surrounding waterways. They are also extremely flammable and are at risk of exploding or catching on fire and have been linked to landfill fires.
Raising awareness about the safe disposal of items containing
 batteries, such as nicotine and marijuana vape pens, is crucial. It is important to remind friends and family that just because  something is labeled as "disposable" does not mean it can beÂ
thrown in the regular trash.
Proper disposal of these items can prevent environmental
pollution and potential harm to waste workers.
Infographic by Ellie Dee
Some solutions to helping cut down on the impact of lithium-ion batteries is to use electric-powered devices over battery-powered ones when possible. Turning off battery-operated devices when not in use and investing in a good set of rechargeable batteries, that can save you money, and the environment.
Rechargeable batteries, while still containing lithium-ion, can be recharged roughly 500–1,000 times, depending on brand and usage. That means you need to buy fewer of them than you do when purchasing single-use batteries.
This helps keep batteries out of landfills and saves on lithium mining since they are reusable, less new batteries need to be produced which lessens the environmental impact of lithium-ion batteries.
Sources
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/01/18/the-paradox-of-lithium/
https://samcotech.com/what-is-lithium-extraction-and-how-does-it-work/
https://sustainablereview.com/sustainable-lithium-extraction-how-is-lithium-mined-and-processed/
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/how-lithium-ion-batteries-work
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/made-america-lithium-supply-chain-ev-batteries