Lead-Acid Batteries Top List of Recycled Products

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Lead-Acid Batteries Top List of Recycled Products

Americans Drive 93 Percent Rate

by Returning Spent Auto and Other Lead Batteries

ILLINOIS, CHICAGO, Apr. 22 -/E-Wire/-- This Earth Day, Battery Council International (BCI) recognizes millions of Americans who help make lead-acid batteries one of the country's most highly recycled products. More than 93 percent of lead from spent lead batteries -- some 2 billion pounds -- is recycled each year and reused to produce new batteries. EPA data shows a 42 percent recycling rate for paper, 40 percent for plastic soft drink bottles, and 55 percent for aluminum beer and soft drink cans.

BCI, which represents lead battery manufacturers and recyclers, has tracked the lead recycling rate from spent automotive, truck, motorcycle, marine and other lead-acid batteries since 1987. The lead-acid battery industry is the country's largest user of lead.

The strong recycling rate results from cooperation by motorists who turned in spent batteries when they purchased new ones, or removed old batteries from garages or storage during spring clean up and Earth Day activities. Consumers, retailers and members of the battery industry collaborate to capture lead, plastic and even battery acid from spent batteries and reclaim them for use in new batteries.

Spent batteries go to permitted recycling facilities where, under strict environmental regulations, the lead and plastic are reclaimed and reused in the manufacture of new lead batteries. The recycling cycle continues indefinitely.

"We acknowledge the consumers who made the effort to return their spent batteries,' said Keith Wandell, president of BCI. "While we have the infrastructure to collect spent batteries and a market for the recycled materials, the model wouldn't work if consumers didn't turn in spent batteries for recycling.'

Battery Council International helped pass model lead-acid battery recycling laws that prohibit the disposal of spent lead-acid batteries and require batteries to be collected through a take-back program. Those laws are on the books in 42 states.

"Lead-acid battery recycling in the U.S. is one of the environmental success stories of our time, protecting the environment and saving money,' said Mr. Wandell. "It proves that when consumers are properly motivated and all of the components are in place, the collection and recycling model works successfully.'

The BCI 1995-1999 National Recycling Rate Study and historical recycling data is at www.batterycouncil.org . EPA data is at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/recycle.htm .

Battery Council International

Tarkenton & Addams, Inc.,

http://www.batterycouncil.org

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/recycle.htm

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