Q. What are the uses for lead-acid batteries?
Developed in the late 19th century, lead-acid batteries benefit us in everyday ways -- when we start our cars, use an uninterrupted power supply, or talk on a phone during a storm.
- Transportation - Lead-acid batteries either start or power cars, buses, rapid-rail systems, boats, electric forklifts and wheelchairs, golf carts and many other vehicles.
- Communications - In severe weather, they come to the rescue as backup power for telephone systems.
- Power Control - Electric utilities rely on lead-acid batteries to handle fluctuations in demand for electricity that can cause power outages.
- Backup Power - During power outages, lead-acid batteries provide emergency power for critical operations such as hospitals, air traffic towers, rail crossings and military installations.
- Standby Systems - Lead-acid batteries power cable TV systems, marine buoys and lighthouses, and also store electricity generated by solar panels and windmills.
Q. What are the types of lead-acid batteries?
Lead-acid batteries have a variety of purposes, but they fall into two main categories. The main difference is the level and duration of power.
- Starting batteries
People usually associate lead-acid batteries with car batteries, which start engines through quick bursts of energy. - Deep-cycle batteries
Used primarily on boats, campers and golf carts to power accessories (e.g., trolling motors, winches or lights) through a lower power level for a longer period than a starting battery.
Q. How does a lead-acid battery generate electricity?
A lead-acid battery stores electricity through a reverse chemical reaction. This occurs when two dissimilar materials (positive and negative plates) are immersed in the electrolyte, a solution of sulfuric acid and water. Batteries operate in constant cycles of discharging and charging. When a battery is connected to a load that needs electricity, such as your car, it discharges. If you're driving your car without accessories, the alternator charges the battery by adding current.
Q. Can we recycle lead-acid batteries?
Yes. More than 98 percent of all spent lead-acid batteries are recycled, based on Battery Council International statistics. This tops the recycling efforts of any other product, including newspaper, aluminum or glass.
Q. How are they recycled?
When a dead battery is removed from a vehicle, it begins a life cycle that's repeated indefinitely. The battery is sent to Gopher Resource Corporation, or other permitted recycler, where the lead and plastic are reclaimed under strict environmental regulations and sent to a new battery manufacturer. The typical new lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. See the process used at Gopher Resource Corporation to recycle spent lead-acid batteries into usable raw materials.
Q. Why is it important for us to recycle batteries?
When lead-acid batteries are improperly disposed of, the acid is absorbed into the soil and leaks into waterways, causing serious contamination. We help reduce health risks and preserve the earth's environment and ecosystems by recycling lead-acid batteries safely. Reclaiming resources not only protects the planet, but also saves energy and preserves our raw materials.
Q. How is recycled lead used?
Some of the uses for our recycled lead:
- Auto/industrial batteries
- Sporting goods equipment
- Sound construction materials
- Nuclear and X-ray shielding
- Electronics
- Pipes and cable sheaths
- Leaded glass computer and TV screens
- Uninterrupted power supply
- Roofing materials
- Automotive parts
- Military ammunition
Q. What kind of products are produced from the recycled plastic battery casings?
We recycle the plastic casings from spent lead-acid batteries at Resource Plastics, an affiliate of Gopher Resource Corporation. The process results in a high-quality polypropylene resin shipped in pelletized form primarily to injection molding companies and plastic product manufactures for new uses as:
- Battery cases and covers
- Plastic wheels
- Automotive parts
- Other molded products
Q. Is the acid from lead-acid batteries recyclable?
At Gopher Resource Corporation, our advanced water purification and treatment system neutralizes, purifies and converts the acid into a pH-neutral liquid that is safely released into the sewer system.
Q. How can I do my part to recycle used car batteries?
Confirm that your spent car battery is being recycled by your automotive repair station. If you change your own battery, properly dispose of the spent battery by taking it to a station or recycling center for recycling. In fact, 38 states in the U.S. now require that for every new battery sold, a spent battery must be reclaimed, while five others have disposal bans. In states with no lead-acid battery recycling law, battery retailers commonly accept used lead-acid batteries from customers. Retailers ship spent batteries to recycling facilities licensed and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Source: Includes information from Battery Council International.