Why should you recycle your car's old battery?

By Ané Theron

Did you know that many years ago, you would only be able to lay your hands on a new battery once you handed in your old one? Battery recycling started during World War II when lead was viewed as a strategic metal. This meant that a large amount of lead could be retained, which lowered battery manufacturers' costs, and at the same time, reduced the amount of lead pollution.

Nowadays, most people realize that not recycling their used batteries can have a detrimental effect on the environment, and car batteries do make their way to recycling plants, more so than cans, newspapers, plastics and glass. All lead acid batteries are, in fact, almost a hundred percent recyclable.

First National Battery, South Africa's largest battery manufacturer, says:

"Automotive battery components, which include lead, plastic and sulphuric acid are harmful to our environment if they are not properly treated. Fortunately, most of the components of these batteries are well suited to recycling. First National Battery is one of the few organisations in SA with the necessary facilities and knowledge to ensure the safe recycling and disposal of lead acid battery components."

At First National Battery's facility in Benoni, great care is taken to ensure that almost all of the components are recycled for re-use.

"This recycling facility includes a battery breaker, an effluent plant that treats the acid, a lead smelter, a blending kettle to produce specialised alloys and scrubbers to control environmental emissions. A plastic processing plant has also been commissioned. First National Battery can issue registered disposal certificates for ISO companies on request – thereby completing the entire reprocessing cycle," they say.

How do I get my old car battery to First National Battery?

Scrap Battery will take care of the collection of old batteries across South Africa. You can take your old battery to any Battery Centre or Exide outlet, which are a recognized drop-off points. If you need to get rid of large volumes of batteries, Scrap Battery offers a collection service as well.

To find out exactly where to drop off your battery or to see if you are eligible for a free scrap collection service, call ScrapBattery toll-free on 0800 333 462 or visit www.scrapbattery.co.za.