There are two types of car batteries- lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. These are used for hybrid vehicles. At some point in time, they wear down and need replacement. Once you change the old car battery with the new one, it’s not so easy to throw away as trash. Due to environmental concerns, throwing these poisonous car batteries as trash here and there could attract stern fines or penalties. Do you know how to dispose of car batteries?
Old car batteries, particularly lead-acid batteries carry toxic chemicals. If those chemicals are allowed to spread on the ground, it would sure to contaminate the soil with harmful substances like lead, acids, and other non-biodegradable chemicals and plastics.
How can you dispose of car batteries?
Don’t dump your car batteries as regular trash. Batteries are extremely hazardous to the surrounding as it contains sulfuric acid and lead contents that are very harmful to the plant, animals and humans.
- Make sure you take them to the nearby battery center when you replace it with a new one.
- Batteries are recyclable and in exchange you might get discount by that.
OR
- Take your unusable or abandoned battery to nearby auto shop or auto parts store
- These unused and old batteries are exchanged with new one with paying some additional amount.
How can you safely remove a car battery?
It doesn’t matter whether your car battery has lasted for 3, 5 or 10 years; it has already passed its time. The old battery can’t hold the charge for long and can’t be operated effectively in extreme temperature situations and is vulnerable to leakage. Before you replace the old battery, however, it’s your job to remove the battery safely first. Follow the process:
Step 1: Security First
First, you wear gloves for protection. Old batteries could have leakages and getting in touch with battery acid can be harmful.
Step 2: Disconnecting the negative cable
Next, disconnect the cable from negative terminal of the battery. It’s a black coating. You can use a screw-driver to loosen the nut from the terminal. Be careful, the screw-driver must not touch both terminals simultaneously.
Step 3: Disconnecting the positive cable
Now, disconnect the positive terminal which might have a red-coating.
Step 4: Inspect and Remove
As the both the terminals of the battery are removed, there could be a hold-down device in almost all of the batteries that is a strap or block at the bottom of battery. Remove that strap or block and check if there is any clip, strap or any other safety part could be holding it. They need to be removed immediately. Check for fluid leak once more.
How can you recycle the car battery?
There are battery recycling plants or sites where you can recycle these batteries or you can safely dispose of them.
Step 1: Dump them at protected Landfills
Step 2: Sold to the e-waste plants where they can safely dispose them.
During recycling, these batteries are analyzed according to the parameters designed by the recycling companies. They can be divided into two parts- Those who can be given second life or it’s recycled
The old batteries are segregated according to the chemicals present in them and are recycled according to the processes designed for them.