What to do with an old car battery?

November 6, 2021

52

Table of Contents

Here’s what you need to do with old car batteries. Recycling old batteries reduces waste and, since 99% of lead-acid batteries are recyclable, reduces the need for new raw materials and components.

What to do with an old car battery?

Instead of storing your old battery, recycle it and leave it at the checkout when you buy a new one. Observe all precautions when handling a used battery.

How are car batteries disposed of?

In a recycling center, the battery is first crushed in a drum crusher. The shredded parts are placed in a container, lead and heavy materials settle to the bottom, and the plastic rises to the top. Chunks of plastic are removed and the liquid is drained, leaving the lead and metallic materials.

Then the polypropylene plastic is washed, dried, and sent to the tank, where its fragments are fused. The molten material is fed into an extruder and turned into small plastic pellets, which are sold to battery case manufacturers for reuse.

Lead is melted in a smelting furnace and impurities are removed from it. Lead ingots are sent to battery manufacturers to make new batteries. The acid in old batteries is sometimes neutralized by turning it into the water with an alkaline compound such as sodium bicarbonate.

The water is tested for safety and then discharged down the drain. The acid can also be converted to sodium sulfate, a white powder used in detergents and other industrial processes.

Why recycle car batteries?

Lead-acid batteries power many cars every day. Lead-acid is very hazardous to the environment as it can pollute groundwater and adversely affect human and animal health.

The most effective way to prevent damage to batteries is to properly recycle and dispose of them. This allows the manufacturing company to recover valuable materials while protecting the environment. One of the most valuable materials for recycling car batteries is lead, which is expensive to mine and harmful to the environment.

Here are the main reasons why you should ensure that old car batteries are recycled safely and efficiently, preventing the risk of accidents and environmental pollution.

Energy Conservation: By recovering valuable minerals in the recycling process, car battery parts can be reused. This reduces the need to manufacture components from scratch, saving resources, time, and energy used in the manufacturing process.
Saving money: The cost of raw materials continues to rise. By recycling up to 95% of battery components, most of the materials can be reused in the manufacture of new batteries. This reduces the cost of new batteries.
Sustainable: Safe and responsible recycling is good for everyone. By recycling old car batteries, you are caring for the environment for future generations.

When it comes time to replace your car battery, make sure it is done by trusted professionals who dispose of your old battery using a safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly recycling process.