How to recycle your old car battery
Lead-acid batteries are highly recyclable, which is great news for the environment.
Queenslanders can recycle their old automotive batteries with RACQ, reducing toxic waste.
RACQ Manager Automotive Operations Mark Wessling said if not recycled, automotive, marine and deep-cycle lead-acid batteries could corrode and leak their highly toxic fluid, creating a hazard for people, wildlife and the environment.
He said lead-acid batteries made from lead, electrolyte (containing sulphuric acid) and polypropylene (plastic) were about 96% recyclable.
“The acid and lead can be hazardous and batteries should not be left sitting in the shed or dumped when no longer useful,” Mr Wessling said.
“Recycling used batteries is the best option.”
Get going with RACQ car battery replacement
RACQ aims for a battery recycling rate of 90% of the number of batteries it sells.
“For example, in a recent month we sold 16,459 batteries and we had 89% of that figure come back for recycling,” Mr Wessling said.
He explained the figure varied from month to month as the collection of ‘scrap’ batteries for recycling from remote parts of the state was not done every month.
“There are some months where we will recycle more than 100% of the number of batteries sold because we only collect scrap batteries from places like Mount Isa once every six weeks,” Mr Wessling said.
What happens to recycled batteries
During a typical recycling process:
- The lead is melted into ingots and re-used to manufacture products, including new car batteries.
- The acid is converted into sodium sulphate, which can be used to make glass, textiles, detergents and fertilisers.
- The plastic is melted and recycled for re-use in new batteries and other products, including rubbish bins, plant pots and play equipment.
How to recycle your battery
- Old lead-acid batteries can be dropped off at RACQ stockist for recycling. Click here for a list of stockists around the state.
- Do not put your old battery in your household waste or recycling bins.
Learn more about RACQ's battery recycling program
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Things to note
The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.
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RACQ Operations Pty Ltd (ABN 80 009 663 414, AR No. 234978) and Members Travel Group Pty Ltd (ABN 45 144 538 803, AR No.432492) (RACQ) are authorised representatives of the RACQ Travel Insurance insurer Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548) (Tokio Marine). Tokio Marine Management (Australasia) Pty Ltd (ABN 69 001 488 455, AR No. 1313066) is an authorised representative of Tokio Marine, and administers RACQ Travel Insurance as the managing agent on behalf of Tokio Marine. Terms, conditions (including eligibility criteria), exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Any advice is general advice only, and does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. Before you purchase, please consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) / Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determinations (TMDs) available at racq.com or on request from RACQ.