How to Dispose of Car Batteries Safely

We talk about car batteries a lot here. Just recently we tackled "6 Reasons Your Car Battery Isn't Working" and shared useful tips on how to prevent car battery corrosion. Today we're going to be talking about something most of us rarely think about; how to properly dispose of a car battery when it can no longer be used. Automotive batteries have an average lifespan of around three to five years after which you will need to replace your battery. So what do you actually do with a dead car battery? Once your car battery can no longer be used, you need to have it recycled. Keep reading for valuable information on why recycling is so important and where you can go to have your old car batteries recycled.

Can You Throw Away Batteries?

Car batteries contain heavy metals and chemicals which can be dangerous both to individuals and the environment if not disposed of properly. A single lead acid car battery can contain up to 18 pounds of lead and about one gallon of corrosive lead-contaminated sulfuric acid. If an old car battery is placed in a landfill, these harmful substances will leak out over time, contaminating the soil and groundwater and running off into surrounding lakes and streams. This can potentially have detrimental effects on people's health, especially local residents. That's why it's illegal to throw car batteries away with the rest of your trash. Instead of trying to throw it out, you need to have your old car battery recycled so that the material inside can be reused.

Can Car Batteries Be Recycled?

Nearly 100% of a lead battery can be recycled. That includes the lead, plastic and sulfuric acid, which can be recovered and reused for other purposes. While automotive batteries can be recycled, it's important to remember that when recycling a car battery, you can't just toss them into your municipal recycling bin. A typical car battery contains harmful materials that can be toxic to people. That's why automotive batteries need to be taken somewhere that is equipped to dispose of them properly, such as a battery retailer or a local hazardous waste collection program.

Where to Dispose of Car Batteries

Batteries Plus recycles a wide range of light bulbs and batteries, including car batteries. In fact, we recycle approximately 52 million pounds of lead acid batteries a year. These spent batteries are sent to EPA certified processors where all salvageable material is separated and reused.

If you have a used car battery in need of recycling, simply drop it off at one of our 700+ locations throughout the U.S. Keep in mind that there is some slight variation in the type of material each location can accept. There may also be a cost for recycling, but this too will vary by location. For the most accurate information, contact your nearest Batteries Plus store and ask them what type of recyclables they accept.

Does Batteries Plus Offer Car Battery Recycling for Businesses?

Batteries Plus offers battery and light bulb recycling as one of the benefits of our business account program. If your company relies on a fleet of vehicles, consider signing up today. It's completely free to join the Batteries Plus business account program. Once you do, you'll have access to a number of additional benefits, including volume discount pricing, shipping options and access to your own dedicated advisor. Learn more about why your business should use Batteries Plus for your recycling needs and how Batteries Plus can help keep your vehicle fleet running smoothly.

Batteries Plus Offers Additional Battery and Light Bulb Recycling

Batteries Plus recycles much more than just car batteries. We also accept a number of different vehicle batteries, device batteries and alkaline batteries, as well as a large selection of light bulbs. Get details on everything we accept on our Recycling Page, including answers to common recycling questions. Want to learn more about this topic? Read our blog entitled "Batteries 101: Everything You Need to Know About Expired Batteries." If you are looking for a new battery for your car or cell phone, you can also stop by your local Batteries Plus store or shop online and choose from a long list of options.