Lead pollution and industrial opportunism in China

Mengxi Village, in Zhejiang province, in eastern coastal China, is an obscure rural hamlet not far geographically but far removed socially from the beauty, history, and glory of Hangzhou, the capital. Now it is the unlikely center of a an environmental health awakening in which citizens took direct action by storming the gates of a lead battery recycling plant that has caused lead poisoning among both children and adults in the village.  Sharon Lafranierre reported the story on 15 June 2011 in the New York Times .

What was unusual about the incident was not that the community was heavily polluted and that the health of children in the village has been harmed but that local residents, 200 of them, took violent action, smashing property in the plant, and seem not to have been punished for it. The incident opens a window on the rapid change in attitudes in China toward industrialization, pollution, and authority.

Like many rural settlements, Mengxi responded to the opening of the Chinese economy by creating small-scale business to make money and to raise local residents out of poverty. Compared to earlier local “township enterprises,” this plant came late to Mengxi; it was only opened in 2005. But it caught a wave of increased business demand and now employs a reported 1000 workers, making it an important economic support for rural Deqing County. Historically, these township enterprises have been a peculiar and often corrupt blend of local government and local entrepreneurship. They have been grossly undercapitalized and essentially unregulated: the Mengxi battery plant had apparently been knowingly operating for at least six years in violation of environmental emissions standards. The central Government has been cracking down in recent years and making examples in some egregious cases but local authorities are stronger in rural areas.

Local officials, having a deep and usually personal stake in these enterprises, often try harder to protect them than to protect the local people for whom they are responsible. Mengxi illustrates the problem of local officials refusing to act, denying that the problem exists, and suppressing efforts to find out by journalists or by public health experts. Part of this may be greed but once the damage is done fear probably takes over as the main motivation for concealing the truth. Already, eight company officials have been arrested and all must be very aware of the two senior executive and the dairy boss who were executed in China this year for allowing contamination of milk.

Deep Recycling Battery - News


Lead pollution and industrial opportunism in China
Lead pollution and industrial opportunism in China

Now it is the unlikely center of a an environmental health awakening in which citizens took direct action by storming the gates of a lead battery recycling plant that has caused lead poisoning among both children and adults in the village.



New Report Detailing Failures of Mexican Battery Recyclers Proves the ...

Known as ULABs internationally and spent lead acid batteries (SLABs) domestically, these dead car, boat, and other deep cycle batteries contain dangerous components thatcan cause serious harm unless properly recycled. In recent years a huge increase in



Mason County recycler that finds a use for almost everything wins recognition

Bill Hersh of Shelton dropped off some peanut oil left over from deep-frying his turkey last Thanksgiving. “We know a guy making biodiesel fuel that can use it,” Wilson said of the peanut oil. The private firm is even recycling some of the City of



News Briefs - June 25, 2011

16, and Oct. 21 from sunset to 10 pm at the Battery Worth Picnic Area at Fort Pickens Area. Weather permitting, volunteers from the Escambia Amateur Astronomers' Association will set up several telescopes for public viewing of the stars,



Panasonic Eco Ad Campaign Launches in North America

Panasonic's corporate eco commitment to further reduce CO2 emissions, increase resource recycling, save and reuse water and raise environmental consciousness is the subject of a series of 30 and 60-second commercials airing during the National




Have Power When Your Renewable Energy Doesn't!

 

Have Power When Your Renewable Energy Doesn’t!

 

What do you do if the sun doesn’t shine for a couple of days? Or there is no wind to turn your turbine?

You need to create a battery back up if you are not connected to the utility grid. Which can bring up a few questions about what batteries are best for your system. Watch this video with good points of decision with the summary below for your benefit.

A huge, beefy battery is not always the best choice to make a battery bank. When used as part of a Renewable Energy battery bank, the batteries go through a deep discharge and recharge. Because of it’s construction, it may only last a year. If the only marking it it’s “Cold Cranking Amperage” (CCA), it is not a good choice for a battery bank system.

One of the items you will want to look for is the “Reserve Capacity” listed on the battery. Some will then have “High discharge Capacity” which is the same as CCA.

Then there is the dual purpose battery. This one has a lot of good info listed on it. This one has a lot of good info listed on it. An example is the number of discharge cycles. This means it can be discharged to 80% and recharged up to 500 times. However, they are subject to being subject to destruction if they are over charged. So you want to use safety apparatus during your charging process that you do NOT overcharge.

The truly deep cycle batteries that are the best for battery bank use is that they are true deep recycling batteries. No CCA rating, but have thick lead cells to take charges over and over. They can be cycled from 900 – 1200 times, depending on how deeply they are discharged each time over the period of their useful life. These batteries do require that you recharge them with 30% more power than what has been used out of them.

There are three types of batteries to consider: 1) Flooded Wet Cell, 2) Gel cell and 3) AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat. The gel cell and ACM do no venting at all, allowing most any configuration for storage or banking. However, the cost is at the top of the list.

The best recommendation for battery bank is the golf cart batteries. There are also solar specific batteries that have extremely long life, but a cost to match.

An important note is that periodically the batteries are charged completely. Furthermore, it is suggested that you equalize the batteries at least every six months. The stirring of the electrolytes will also extend the life of the batteries.


Deep Recycling Battery - Bookshelf

Planning and installing photovoltaic systems, a guide for installers, architects and engineers

Planning and installing photovoltaic systems, a guide for installers, architects and engineers

8.3.7 Recycling The greatest environmental impact from lead-acid batteries results from heavy metal lead.To prevent harmful substances from polluting the ...

Popular Science

Popular Science

BH the AFL has the fastest flash-recycling time of any 35-mm camera — IV2 seconds — and the time remains constant for the life of the battery. ...

Resource recovery and recycling from metallurgical wastes

Resource recovery and recycling from metallurgical wastes

One difference between the recycling of lead and that of other non-ferrous metals is that the battery breaking, past treatment, and refining steps have ...

Chemical abstracts

Chemical abstracts

... hydrothermat vent review deep 22947 lz extraterrestrial tracer helium 3 .... P 235240q battery structure recycling sodium P 235204f combustion flame ...

Handbook of automotive power electronics and motor drives

Handbook of automotive power electronics and motor drives

The results are greater power capacity, longer life cycle, deep discharge without degeneration, rapid recharge, and high specific energy. These batteries ...

Casual Articles Directory


Deep cycle battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Deep cycle battery plates have thicker active plates, with higher-density active paste ... [edit] Recycling Deep Cycle Batteries. The vast majority of deep cycle ...

Recycle Batteries-Recycle Batteries Manufacturers, Suppliers ...
Choose Quality Recycle Batteries Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters ... 1.12V150AH 6DG150 deep recycle flooded type electric car battery with excellent vibration ...

Recycle Battery-Recycle Battery Manufacturers, Suppliers and ...
Choose Quality Recycle Battery Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters at Alibaba.com. ... 1.12V120AH 6DG120 deep recycle flooded type electric car battery with excellent vibration ...

Deep cycle batteries
But not just any old car battery will do - you need a deep cycle battery. Learn... While I was able to recycle the batteries; it was still just execessive waste - and the ...

Can you recycle alkaline batteries?
Yes you can recycle regular, non-rechargeable batteries. But can you find a location to take them?