An Overview of Car Battery Recycling

The disposal of used car batteries is a significant issue for those concerned about the environment. The lead in the car batteries is poisonous to humans. Car batteries also contain highly toxic sulfuric acid. If left alone in a landfill or junk yard, the acid in the battery may generate toxic and explosive gasses. For these reasons, used car batteries represent a major threat to human health and the environment. Dead batteries should always be recycled appropriately to prevent any ecological contamination. (read also how to jump start toyota prius )

Happily, car batteries are a great recycling success story. Lead-acid car batteries are nearly 100% recyclable even though they contain highly toxic substances. The lead, plastic, and acid that make up a car battery can all be recovered and used again. In fact, 60% of the world's lead supply comes from recycled car batteries. This means that less lead needs to be mined from the earth due to this recycling. Many states have laws requiring retailers that sell car batteries to also accept dead batteries for recycling. This makes it easy to dispose of a dead car battery.


Separating the Car Battery Components


The Battery Council International provides an in-depth description of the process by which car batteries are recycled. First, the basic components of the car batteries are separated and sorted. Spent car batteries are transported to a recycling center. The batteries are loaded onto a conveyer belt and sent through a hammermill. This device is equipped multiple revolving hammers that smash the batteries into smaller pieces. The pulverized batteries are sorted into three streams.

The plastic, lead, and lead-acid paste are separated by immersion in water. The plastic pieces float and can be collected from the surface of the water. The lead pieces sink and can be collected after draining the water. The lead-acid paste is removed with a screen. The paste passes through the screen while the larger battery pieces do not. Each of these streams is converted into materials that can be reused to make new batteries.

Neutralizing the Battery Acid


The lead-acid paste is neutralized by a substance similar to baking soda. The resulting sodium sulfate crystals can be used in the manufacture of glass, textiles, and detergents. Water is a byproduct of the neutralization of the acid. This water can be purified and sent down the drain. There will also be lead left over from this process. This lead can be recycled with the lead recovered directly from the battery.

Recovering the Plastic


The plastic pieces of the battery can be recycled by the same process by which all plastics are recycled. A machine called an extruder applies heat and pressure to melt the plastic. This plastic is shaped into small pellets and sent off to be made into new batteries.

Reusing the Lead


The lead from the batteries can be melted into a liquid. Impurities in the lead will not melt and can be scraped off the surface of the molten lead. The lead is then poured into bar-shaped molds. It can be made into new car batteries.

Battery recycling is an effective way to protect the environment. This process reuses almost all of the materials in the battery, neutralizes any toxic waste, and increases the efficiency of battery production. Recycling car batteries takes a highly toxic product from the waste stream while at the same time eliminating the need to use natural resources for new products. This is a tremendous success for the environmental movement.

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