Sand Dollar Sports cares deeply about the environment, both above and below the water. Since our founding more than 40 years ago, sustainability has been at the core of everything we do. We are involved in reef restoration programs, underwater cleanups, recycling initiatives, and efforts to eliminate single-use plastics. We are a PADI Eco Center, a Green Fins Digital Member, and recently achieved EarthCheck Benchmark Status.
We are now taking another step in our commitment to protecting the environment on Cozumel Island. We have joined the permanent battery collection campaign led by CAMAR (Centro de Acopio y Materiales Reciclables), serving as an official community drop-off point for used batteries.
A sustainable dive center should always focus on maintaining and protecting the sea, as it is the core of their business. Without a healthy sea, there is no good scuba diving or snorkeling. Reefs and fish disappear, along with business. Because used batteries can pollute the environment when improperly disposed of, we believe we should do our part to help prevent this from happening.
The Problem with Batteries in Landfills
When household batteries are thrown into the regular trash, they eventually end up in the island’s landfill. Over time, their outer casings can break down, allowing heavy metals and corrosive chemicals to leach into the soil.
Cozumel’s geological makeup is primarily limestone formed from coral and other marine organisms. This porous limestone allows pollutants to filter more easily through the rocks and can put local groundwater supplies at risk. These contaminants can eventually make their way from the aquifer to the coast, threatening the island’s fragile marine ecosystems and coral reefs.
Discarded batteries can also create fire hazards at waste collection and handling facilities.
Why Battery Collection Matters
Proper battery collection helps prevent potentially harmful materials from entering our soil, aquifer, and surrounding sea. By bringing used batteries to designated collection points, they can be handled and recycled appropriately, allowing valuable materials to be recovered and reused to manufacture new products.
This reduces the need for additional mining of raw materials while helping protect Cozumel’s natural resources.
A Call to Action for Our Community
Protecting Cozumel requires a collective effort. We invite local residents and neighboring businesses to bring their used batteries—including standard AA and AAA batteries, button cells, and small rechargeable battery packs—to Sand Dollar Sports during our regular business hours.
Instead of throwing them in the trash, drop them off with us. We will make sure they are collected by CAMAR and sent to an appropriate recycling facility.
Every action counts, no matter how small it may seem. Every battery kept out of the landfill is a win for our island, our groundwater, and our coral reefs.
Bring your used batteries to Sand Dollar Sports on your next visit and join us in keeping Cozumel clean and protecting the natural environment we all love. While you’re here, why not enjoy a day of snorkeling, diving, or SNUBA? We donate a portion of our profits to the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program to help with our reef restoration projects.
