The Entire Process Of Recycling An Old Car Battery

Why Recycling Car Batteries Matters

Recycling car batteries isn’t just great news for the environment; it’s also beneficial economically and has safety benefits.

Your car’s battery is mainly made up of the following:

• lead,
• acid,
• and plastic.

These materials can be highly hazardous and may contaminate soil and water if dumped in landfills.

Recycling them helps:

Protect the Environment

Proper recycling prevents toxic substances from leaching into the ground or water.

Conserve Resources

The lead and plastic (type of plastic) recovered from batteries can be reused with little effort and reduce the need for raw materials.

Boost the Economy

Repurposing recycled materials requires labour and time, which means it employs people. However, it is also a cost-effective alternative to manufacturing new products.

Now that we’ve gone over why recycling your car’s batteries matters, let’s go through how they are recycled.

 

How Your Car’s Battery Is Recycled

These are the general steps to take to ensure your car’s battery is recycled:

 

Step 1: Collection and Transportation

The recycling journey begins with collecting spent car batteries. We ensure our old products are picked up from auto repair garages, dealerships, and recycling centres.

Usually, our distribution transportation drops off new batteries, picks up older units, and transports them to battery recycling facilities.

Strict guidelines ensure that batteries are secured during transit to prevent leaks or spills of corrosive acid, safeguarding both people and the environment.

 

Step 2: Inspection And Preparation

The older batteries must undergo a thorough inspection when they arrive at the recycling facility.

Workers check for any signs of damage or leakage. This step is crucial as it determines the appropriate handling methods for each battery. As you can imagine, safety has to come first, with technicians wearing protective gear to shield themselves from hazardous materials.

Batteries are usually drained of any remaining electrolyte (acid) before dismantling. This helps reduce the risk of chemical burns.

Also, the acid is typically neutralised using a base, such as lime, to render it safe for disposal or conversion into other industrial products.

 

Step 3: Dismantling The Battery

Dismantling the battery needs to be done carefully. Also, all the materials need to be separated and include the following:

• Plastic Casing: The battery’s outer shell is removed and set aside for recycling.
• Internal Components: The lead plates and other metal parts are separated from the casing.

The dismantling process can be done via manual labour or by a specialised machine. Ultimately, the goal is to isolate each material type and process it to maximise material recovery, as they can not be reused if blended together.

 

Step 4: Breaking and Separation

With the battery dismantled, the components undergo a breaking and separation process.

Machines known as hammer mills or shredders reduce the battery parts into smaller fragments. This mechanical action is followed by a series of separation techniques, including:

• Vibration and Screening: Different-sized fragments are separated based on density and shape.
• Centrifugation: This process helps separate the heavier lead particles from the lighter materials.

 

Step 5: Refining and Reprocessing

Once the materials have been successfully separated, the refining phase begins. Each material follows a unique pathway:

Lead Recovery and Smelting

The lead fragments are transported to a smelting furnace, where they melt at high temperatures. This process removes impurities and produces clean, reusable lead.

The refined lead is then used to manufacture new batteries and other lead-based products, closing the loop in the recycling process.

Plastic Recycling

The plastic components, often made of polypropylene, are cleaned and processed into pellets.

These pellets serve as raw material for new plastic products, including battery casings and everyday household items.

Acid Neutralization

Battery acid, once neutralised, can be repurposed. In some cases, the by-products of acid neutralisation are used in industrial applications such as water treatment or as a component in chemical manufacturing.

 

The Future of Battery Recycling

As technology evolves, so does the efficiency of recycling processes. Innovations in battery design and recycling technologies pave the way for even more sustainable practices.

If you’re ready to recycle your old battery, you can buy a new one from any Willard stockist.