A call for battery moderation: We own more battery-powered devices than we can maintain

Case in point: I recently dug out a smartphone gimbal I hadn’t used in months. I had a reason to use it again and figured I’d just charge it up and go. The battery, unsurprisingly, was dead. After charging, the device powered on, but the battery had clearly degraded - probably from deep discharge or just sitting unused too long. It could barely support its own weight, let alone balance a phone. Since the battery is non-removable, the gimbal is now essentially e-waste.

Same with a wireless lav mic I received as a gift. I didn’t try it out for three months, and by the time I did, it was completely dead - never even got a chance to use it.

Back in the early 2000s, this wasn’t such a problem. Most devices had removable batteries. Phones and laptops let you swap out the battery when it failed. Many gadgets simply ran on standard AA or AAA batteries. Fast forward to today, and even with the EU’s new Battery Regulation (2023/1542), most consumer electronics have sealed-in batteries - smartphones, laptops, and especially the endless stream of gadgets we now accumulate.

You’ll find non-removable batteries in everything from headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and party boxes to VR headsets, controllers, electric shavers, clippers, gamepads, gimbals, microphones, power banks, power stations, screwdrivers, voice recorders, translation gadgets, lamps, e-readers, and so much more. Then there are the devices with removable batteries - such as drones, action cams, cameras, and e-bikes - that still require regular charging and care. Walk through your home with this in mind, and you'll probably spot dozens of such items. I stopped counting at around 30.

And here’s the kicker: Batteries don’t like sitting unused. Like my gimbal, many of these gadgets break down if they’re not charged and used regularly. But with so many devices, how can anyone possibly keep up? I use my power station only for rare outdoor trips. I fly my drone maybe a few times a year. Same with my cordless screwdriver or RC car. These aren’t daily drivers.

This goes beyond just personal inconvenience. We’re living in a culture of overconsumption - constantly buying cheap, trendy gadgets that promise a few hours of novelty, only to be forgotten in a drawer and eventually tossed in the trash, batteries and all. The environmental cost is real, and it's mounting. It’s no wonder the EU is trying to push back with regulations, though those won’t fully take effect until 2027 - and even then, the impact depends on how strictly they're enforced. Loopholes and exemptions already exist.

As consumers, we still have power. We can choose to buy devices with replaceable batteries. We can be more mindful of what we buy and avoid every tempting "deal" on the next Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday sale. Just because something is cheap and shiny doesn’t mean it won’t end up as waste before the year is out.

Easier said than done, of course. Will I be able to resist next time? Honestly... I’m not sure.