When most consumers toss old batteries out they might assume the power source is out of juice, or in other words it’s worthless. Energizer apparently doesn’t think that’s the case and is now giving new life to old batteries its new EcoAdvanced line.

The Associated Press reports that Energizer Holdings has developed the first disposable AA and AAA alkaline batteries made with recycled batteries.

About 4% of the weight of the new Energizer EcoAdvanced batteries comes from the recycled cells. However, Energizer estimates that by 2025, nearly 45% of the weight in EcoAdvanced will come from recycled batteries.

EcoAdvanced, which is expected to be available in U.S. stores this week and internationally by the end of the year, purportedly last longer than any other product produced by Energizer, but cost 25% to 30% more than standard batteries.

Michelle Atkinson, chief marketing officer and vice president for Energizer, tells the AP that the process to develop the recycled batteries began about seven years ago when company executives visited a battery recycling plant.

While the recycled battery materials were used for things such road filler, Atkinson says there wasn’t a re-use for actual battery purposes.

Officials with Boston-based Product Stewardship Institute say EcoAdvanced provides benefits far beyond reducing the number of batteries in landfills.

“By creating the market for the recycled materials, it decreases the need to mine new materials, and mining is a big contributor to greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change,” Scott Cassel, CEO of Product Stewardship tells the AP.

The AP reports that while Energizer’s new product is the first alkaline recycled battery, it’s not the first type of battery to be recycled.

In fact, 96% of all lead-acid batteries, such as car batteries, are recycled, the Environmental Protection Agency reports.

Additionally, the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. currently recycles four types of rechargeable batteries including those made of nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, and small-sealed lead.

For its part, Duracell – the largest battery-maker in the world – says it is involved in battery recycling and uses recycled materials in packaging, displays and boxes for products.

Consumers interested in recycling one-time use batteries can search for options near them through Earth 911.

Energizer debuts recycled AA and AAA batteries [The Associated Press]

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