The Importance of Recycling Auto Batteries


You don't have to even be that into watching, listening to, or reading the news to know what a big deal recycling has become. Most people are well acquainted with the idea of putting household items like paper, plastic, glass, and metal in recycling bins to be properly disposed of. At that point, the materials have the chance to be used again. One aspect of recycling you might not have thought about is recycling auto batteries. Most of us don't give much thought to recycling anything about our vehicles, but many of the parts can be. Salvage yards have long been a place to send your old car where it can be parted out for use in all kinds of other cars. The result is less landfill space used on things that don't have a chance of biodegrading and less expense for car owners. When it comes to auto batteries recycling though, the stakes are actually a bit higher.

Let's break down the key elements found in most vehicle batteries. The one element most people are the most familiar with is the presence of sulfuric acid. If you have ever been around someone replacing a car battery yourself, you likely heard a warning to stay away from the battery because it does contain acid. When you take the time for recycling auto batteries, the proper recycling plant can actually take that old acid and clean it. It will either end up in a new car battery or in other useful products. Either way, you can bet it won't be the ground somewhere causing harm to plants, animals, and people.

The next compound found in used car batteries is lead. Lead has been in the news a lot lately in regards to house paint and other hazards. It's pretty easy to see why recycling auto batteries are preferable to trying to throw them away. Just like the sulfuric acid, the lead found in vehicle batteries can be reused in new products. Considering that the average auto battery contains up to 21 pound of lead, making the informed decision to find the correct disposal facility in your area when you change your car battery is vitally important.

The final element in auto batteries recycling is plastic. Unlike the other two compounds, once plastic is used in a car battery, it typically isn't used in one again. The recycling plant will filter out any impurities in the material before it used in other goods. The practice is perfectly safe. It's also important to note that many communities have stringent laws about where and how to dispose of auto batteries. Recycling is the only safe way to go.