How to Properly Dispose of Your Old Automotive Battery and Recycle Components
How to Properly Dispose of Your Old Automotive Battery and Recycle Components
Blog Article
Hi kids. You may have wondered about the fate of your car battery when it stops working. It can be a bit surprising. When this does happen, you may need to purchase a new battery to get your vehicle running once again. But guess what? So don’t forget that you’re not allowed to dispose of your old battery with your regular trash. That is not a good idea for our Earth or the health of others. Now, let us learn how to properly dispose an old car battery and how to recycle its components. Let’s dive in.
How to Dispose of Your Old Car Battery
If you discover you no longer need your old car battery, it is crucial to dispose of it properly. Car batteries contain many dangerous materials, including lead and sulfuric acid. These materials can be extremely harmful to the environment. That’s why we can’t just throw them in the trash. Instead, we must take them to a special place, a recycling center. They know how to treat batteries properly at those centers, so as not to end up hurting the Earth.
How to Properly Dispose of Your Old Car Battery
Store it safely: The very first step is to store your old battery safely. You shouldn’t leave it somewhere too hot or too cold, since this can cause the battery to leak. It that leaked could become a huge problem. Store your old battery somewhere cool and dry until you bring it to a recycling center.
And Take It Out of Your Car: If you are replacing your old batteries with a new one, remember that safety comes first — wear gloves and safety glasses. You first need to unscrew the negative cable, which is typically identified with a minus sign (-). Then work loosening the positive cable, marked with a plus sign (+), but don’t remove yet. At that point, carefully remove the battery from your vehicle. Watch out, batteries can be heavy.
To help you get started, here are some tips you can follow when you recycle battery parts.
After removing the old battery from your vehicle, it’s time to recycle it. Did you know that 95% of a vehicle battery can be recycled? That’s a lot. A good chunk of the battery can be repurposed to create new batteries and other materials. Here are some terrific recycling tips:
Plastic Case: This component of your old battery can be melted down and recycled. Once melted, it can be molded into new battery cases and other plastic products such as containers and toys.
Recycling of Lead and Acid: The lead and acid present in the battery can also be recycled. The acid is treated and converted into water, which is fluffy. That lead can be melted down and used to manufacture new batteries again. This also keeps our environment clean.
Where to Go with Your Old Battery
Wondering where you can drop off your old battery for good recycling? Most car shops and recycling centers will gladly take in old batteries to recycle. You can also contact your city’s waste management department. They may have one day where they collect batteries and other dangerous waste. And it never hurts to ask.
Important. Never discard your old battery in the trash or attempt to burn it. This can cause toxic chemicals to be released in the air and the soil. It's very bad for the environment, and it can harm people and animals. We need to protect our planet and heal it.
How To Recycle Your Car Battery and Its Parts
Is it really easy to recycle your old car batteries? All you have to do is take it to a recycling center. They will disassemble the battery and then recycle all the various components in a safe manner. They know exactly what to do.
By recycling your old car battery, including its parts, you are doing wonders toward conserving the environment. You are protecting yourself as well. Next time you swivel your wheels into a new set of shoes, make sure you recycle the old ones. It is a small act that can have a large impact.
It is wise to be safe when handling car batteries. Use gloves and safety glasses, store the battery in a cool and dry place, and absolutely take it to a recycling center rather than in the trash. Let’s unite to keep our planet healthy and happy for us all. By TOKUSHIMA, your car care friendly partner. Thanks for learning about how to help care for our environment.