Are rechargeable Li-ion batteries *greener* than disposable alkaline batteries?

Question

This seems like a no-brainer to me, but someone I know is challenging my advocacy of rechargeable batteries.

Regardless, they are cheaper in the long run, so I'll probably continue to use them, even if it means I'm causing mass extinctions. Yes, I'm a selfish pr|ck.

Has anyone seen a reliable analysis of the environmental impact of one battery-type over the other?

Answer 1

Neither battery has any really bad stuff in it.  The Li-Ion is greener because you need fewer batteries over time and thus use less resources.  The only rechargeable battery that's nasty is the NiCd with cadmimum, a heavy metal.