Umm.
- Do an in warranty battery replacement (within 1 year)
- Pay a repair shop or apple for a new battery.
- Apple runs one of the most comprehensive recycling and trade-in programs out there. Every store offers both trade-in value for devices that have it and free recycling for those that don't.
https://www.apple.com/recycling/nationalservices/
- They will send you a fedex label if you want to fedex in your airpods for recycling if you are too lazy to actually go to a store.
People helping the environment are out there doing it, and others sit on HN too lazy to take even the minimal steps to reduce their impact.
And no, other companies you buy your totally wireless bluetooth headphones from do not make all this easier, but MUCH MUCH harder.