We all use car batteries without thinking too much… until they stop working. When this happens, we wonder what to do with the old battery. Do I throw it away? Do I take it somewhere? Can anything be used?
The first thing you have to know is that they cannot be thrown in the trash, nor left on the street, nor left forgotten in the garage. Batteries contain lead, sulfuric acid and other components that can seriously contaminate the environment if not managed well. The good thing is that recycling car batteries besides being simple, is the right thing from an environmental point of view and, in some cases, it can even be profitable for you.
Places to recycle the car battery
Mechanic workshops
Most workshops accept used batteries because they change them constantly. When you buy a new battery, it is usual that you leave the old one right there without paying anything. They accept so many because later they group all the batteries they remove and send them to authorized managers who handle the recycling. Even some workshops obtain a small economic compensation by volume, reason why they do not object.
It is convenient, since you leave the battery where you bought the new one and thus you do not have to look for recycling points, being the workshop the one that takes care of everything. The bad thing is that they do not pay you for delivering the battery and they will not always inform you about the recycling process they follow.
Anyway if you do not want to complicate yourself and are just looking for a quick way to recycle the car battery, this is usually the easiest.
Recycling centers
Municipal recycling centers are, without a doubt, the most recommended to recycle a car battery. And we tell you this for several reasons:
- They have authorized managers who comply with all regulations.
- They guarantee a safe treatment of hazardous waste.
- It is totally free.
- They are usually well signposted and accessible.
In the recycling centers they accept practically any lead acid battery (the most common in cars), regardless of its state. They are stored in special containers to prevent acid leaks and then sent to specialized recycling plants. If you want the most safe, ecological and regulated, this is yours.
Scrapyards
Scrapyards also accept car batteries and, in fact, it is usually one of the places where you can get money for them, because batteries contain valuable materials such as lead, polypropylene, metallic components and reusable electrolytes.
Scrapyards classify batteries by weight and condition and pay for them by the kilo. This is not related to their operation, but to the value of their materials. The advantages in this case are clear, they pay you for delivering it, they are easy to find and generally accept batteries without asking too much. On the other hand, not all scrapyards work with authorized managers and the price changes every week according to the lead market.
Auto parts stores
Some auto parts stores accept old batteries, especially if you buy a new one there. It works similarly to workshops, they take care of sending them to authorized managers.
If you are already going to buy a new battery, you get rid of the old one, so it is usually a fast process. The bad thing is that usually they do not pay you anything, and not all centers offer the service. It is not the most profitable option, but it is a convenient and correct alternative.
What happens to the car battery when it is recycled
Many people imagine that recycling a battery simply destroys it, but in reality the process is quite more complex, because almost all materials can be recovered.
1. Disassembly
When the battery arrives at the recycling plant, the first thing done is to disassemble it. They are separated:
- Polypropylene cover
- Internal plates
- Electrolyte (sulfuric acid)
- Metallic parts
This step is carried out in controlled spaces, with machinery designed so that there are neither leaks nor contamination.
2. Material separation
Once opened, the battery passes through a crushing system that breaks all the pieces into smaller fragments. Then, those fragments are immersed in water tanks so that the materials separate by density.
The polypropylene floats, so it is collected for plastic recycling. The lead sinks, so it is classified and melted. The electrolyte is neutralized or reused depending on the type of battery.
3. Material recovery
This is the most important thing:
- More than 95% of the lead is recovered, which becomes plates for new batteries again.
- Polypropylene is also reused to manufacture new casings.
- Sulfuric acid can be neutralized in water or transformed into sodium sulfate, which is used in detergents and industrial products.
4. Recycling and reintegration in the industry
Once recovered, the materials can follow two paths, either the metals are melted and become raw material, or the plastics are reprocessed and transformed into new products.
In fact, many new batteries are made of 60 to 80% recycled materials. Therefore, recycling car batteries not only prevents you from polluting but you also save resources and reduce the impact of the automotive industry.
How much is a kilo of car battery worth?
The price per kilo of battery varies a lot depending on the price of lead, which is the main material inside this type of batteries. Usually, the price moves between 0.40€ and 1.40€ per kilo, but it can go up or down depending on the metal market.
As a reference a car battery weighs between 12 and 25 kilos, so in the best case, you can get between 6 and 25 euros per battery. In addition, some scrapyards pay more if you bring several batteries together or if they are large batteries (such as those of industrial vehicles).
How much do they give you for a car battery at the scrapyard?
Although it depends on the area and the day, the average is between 5 and 15 euros for a standard battery. The price is based on real weight, battery condition, amount of recoverable lead and lead demand in the international market.
In large cities or areas with a lot of competition between scrapyards, it is common for them to pay a little more, but not too much either. So you have a reference:
- A small battery (12 to 15 kg): 6 to 10 €
- A conventional car battery (18 to 22 kg): 10 to 15 €
- A large or industrial battery: 15 to 30 €
Whether you are looking for a safe place to leave your battery or if you want to know how much you can get for it, the important thing is that you never throw it in the trash and that you deliver it to an authorized point. Now you know where to recycle a car battery according to what you prefer, so we hope to have helped you. See you next time!
