Car Battery Disposal Tips

Tuesday, 5 January 2021

Car Battery

A car battery is any battery that is utilised as an automotive starter or for lighting or ignition power. You might not be aware of it, but car batteries require special treatment for disposal when they reach the end of their safe working life.

That’s because car batteries are classified as hazardous waste. They are hazardous because of the various potent chemicals that exist within them; all of which can have a damaging impact on the wider environment if you don’t dispose of your end-of-life car batteries responsibly.

Must-know disposal tips for your car battery

Safe and responsible car battery disposal offers two-pronged benefits. First and foremost, it protects our natural environment. Secondly, it ensures you abide by the law. To dispose of your end-of-life car batteries in a legal, eco-conscious manner, read on for our six top tips on car battery disposals:

Under no circumstances should you fly tip your car battery

Although current legislation states that you cannot dispose of car batteries with your household waste, that does not mean you should dispose of your car batteries irresponsibly. Instead of taking the easy, yet reprehensible, option of fly tipping your used car battery in a car park or local countryside, do the responsible thing and take it to a licensed waste disposal carrier. If you are caught fly tipping an old car battery, you could be hit with an on-the-spot fine of up to £400.

It’s not possible to take end-of-life car batteries straight to landfill sites

Car batteries ready for disposal cannot even be taken directly to landfill sites. These will be immediately rejected by the site operator due to the hazardous waste inside them. That’s why it’s always best to take your end-of-life battery to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Here, they will not only de-pollute the battery but dispose of it on your behalf, usually by way of recycling the remaining materials.

Always wear protective clothing when handling car batteries

Before you set about handling and removing your end-of-life car battery from your vehicle, be mindful of the dangers of battery acid. It can burn through clothing and even your skin. It has also been known to cause blindness due to unforeseen leaks, so be sure to wear protective clothing when inspecting the battery before disconnecting, removing and transporting your car battery.

Use a torch to check your car battery for dents or leaks

Speaking of leaking battery acid, the best way to look for hidden dents, leaks or marks on your end-of-life car battery is to shine a torch across all sides. This should be enough to pinpoint any unusual looking areas on the battery that may require professional handling. The most common place for a car battery to leak acid is via the cell caps. Overcharging and extreme cold temperatures have also been known to cause battery leaks.

Keep the battery terminals covered when in transit

If you decide to take your end-of-life car battery to an ATF for de-pollution and recycling, be sure to cover the battery’s terminals in transit. This will ensure that they cannot be shorted out on the move. You should also make sure that the battery is stored upright and secure at all times in transit, as any turns or bumps could cause it to tip over and sustain a serious dent or leak.

Recycling your car battery can ease demand for raw materials

If you take the responsible option and recycle your end-of-life car battery, you’ll be doing your bit to give the environment a much-needed rest. With the chance to reuse much of a car battery’s materials, recycling batteries eases the demand for raw materials and the subsequent energy needed to manufacture with them. Put simply, you’ll be doing your bit for the ‘green economy’.

Dispose your car battery with ASM Auto Recycling

In order to dispose of and recycle your end-of-life car battery in the most efficient way, you can take your batteries to your local ASM Auto Recycling depot for safe and efficient processing. At ASM Auto Recycling, we operate ATFs across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, recycling a range of end-of-life car parts in line with current legislation.

Whichever ASM Auto Recycling depot you turn to, you can be sure your car battery will be processed and recycled in exactly the same way. Our state-of-the-art dismantling facilities enable our experts to remove and store potential toxins from end-of-life car batteries, including sulphuric acid and various other nasties that could be very harmful to the wider environment if it were exposed to these elements for any length of time.

Once car batteries have been de-polluted, they are ready for recycling by qualified professionals. This involves melting the lead inside the battery, whilst neutralising any remaining sulphuric acid and purifying any water. As much as 90-95% of car battery materials can be recycled on average – materials that can be used to manufacture brand-new car batteries for future vehicles.

However, that’s only possible if you take your old car batteries for initial de-pollution at an ATF. To find out your nearest ASM Auto Recycling ATF, click here. If you’d like more advice on removing and disposing of old car batteries, don’t hesitate to give our friendly, knowledgeable team a call today on 01844 268 940 (option 1).

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