While I'm bitching about batteries, large or small. We need laws which require manufacturers to make mobile phone, tablet and laptop batteries replaceable and trade-in-able (<- not a word, I know), with additional legislation requiring manufacturers to be responsible for the recycling. Replacing a whole device because the battery is at 25% of spec is a major part of the problem. And the cobalt in the battery casings can be recycled instead of mined by slaves in the DRC. Most metallic elements are as close to 100% recyclable as to make disposal and mining new a crime against humanity, even without slavery being involved.

The device I'm writing this on was bought with a trade-in of my old device to the manufacturer of these devices. This was only voluntary, though. These trade-ins need to be compulsory and batteries need to be exchangeable. I turn my old desktops into Debian boxes when they become too old to run their native OS after security patches and updates.

@crunchysteve

Everything these days is geared around commercialism and profiteering.

This is a gross waste of materials, and very damaging to the environment.

It also encourages slave labour countries where trace elements are mined.

#ThrowawaySociety

@Jon6705 Yep, it so is. As a non-professional engineer/technerd/hobbyist it annoys the shit out of me. Engineering as about making things better, not worse.