On Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:14:36 -0500, JG2U wrote:

The battery
pollution is substantial because the creation of the batteries requires
destructive mining to produce the batteries and the caustic substances
that power the batteries must later be disposed of.

80%, by weight, of a car, is now recycled. I'm sure batteries are
included. And, we recycle 95% of the cars retired from service.