Five ministries of China have jointly issued a regulation aimed to prevent pollution caused by used batteries.

Five ministries of China have jointly issued a regulation aimed to prevent pollution caused by used batteries. Detailed stipulations are being made on each step of used battery processing, including collection, categorizing, transporting, storing and utilizing.

Since used batteries contain harmful heavy metal elements, like hydrargyrum, lead, cadmium and nickel, and acid and alkali electrolyte solutions, they can cause great harm to people's health and to the environment if they leak.

Wang Qi is a researcher at Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.

"For example, lead contamination can have harm to kid's growth and development. In another example, heavy metal elements, like hydragyrum, even in small doses, can cause great harm to the environment."