Airpods stole the hearts of many commutes. They are convenient and durable, one can practically use it for listening to music, watching a podcast or making a phone call, who wouldn't to own a pair? They even come with their own lithium batteries. However when these batteries no longer charge like they used to, the airpods would become unusable. Repair is not an option since the battery and the airpods are glued together. And if you decided to disposed of them it may cause an explosion in the garbage bin because of the lithium-ion.
Recycling Airpods won't come easy since separating the lithium-ion battery from the plastic shell casing can be quite tricky. Although airpods are designed to last for a long time, there will be a day when it will reach its lifespan. Your options will be limited especially if you are environmentally conscious.
Recycling is out of the picture and disposing can be dangerous especially when it is exposed to extreme heat. Caroline Haskins, a Vice Reporter, recently explained in her article how airpods can be considered a real tragedy for this technologically driven world. It's a social tradegy as well as having the potential to cause large scale chaostrophy environmentally, in the near future.
