I was quite impressed with these. They're well constructed to keep moisture out. The on/off switch is behind rubber, there's a rubber o-ring sealing the battery compartment, and most of the electronics are sealed in the resin-like top with the solar panel. The battery is a replaceable AA rechargeable, so when it eventually loses its charging capacity, you can swap it out. These measures should ensure the lights last a good while and don't end up in the trash by the end of the year. They provide a nice bright light that lasts well on the battery. Not sure how long a charge lasts, as I haven't seen them run out yet!