Industry Investment And Closed-Loop Collection Increases Battery Recycling Rate

The Battery Council International released its National Recycling Rate Study which shows that lead batteries have a recycling rate of 99.3 percent. The industry’s state-of-the-art closed-loop collection and recycling system, along with industry investment, helped create the nearly perfect recycling rate for flooded lead-acid batteries.

The study points out that in addition to keeping 1.7 million tons of batteries out of landfills (annually), lead batteries sustainability reduce CO2 emissions in vehicles through start-stop battery technology, hybrid/electric vehicles, and smart grid technology that improves the reliability of wind and solar farms.  “Our goal is to recycle and reuse as many batteries as possible as part of our commitment to provide an environmentally-friendly source of energy storage,” said Mark Thorsby, executive vice president of BCI. “On average, a new lead battery is comprised of more than 80 percent recycled lead battery material. Every component of the battery, from lead and plastic to sulfuric acid, is recyclable which reduces waste, ensures that they are properly disposed of and decreases the need for virgin ore mining.”

The state-of-the-art closed-loop process that ensures lead batteries’ high rate of recycling is recognized by the World Economic Forum and MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics as the world’s most successful example of a circular economy-featuring the design, production, transportation, recycling and recovery of vehicle batteries. For more information on battery recycling and batteries used in a variety of industries, visit www.usbattery.com.