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Lead-Acid Batteries Fact Sheet
Office of Pollution Prevention
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Lead-acid batteries

About 70 million spent lead-acid automotive batteries are generated each year in the United States. Currently, a vast majority (95%-98%) of these batteries are recycled through lead reclamation operations and secondary lead smelters for use in manufacturing new batteries.

The 1990 Virginia General Assembly Session passed House Bill 856 which prohibits the disposal of spent lead-acid batteries in landfills. This bill also requires that waste batteries be delivered to a battery recycler, wholesaler or authorized collection facility for proper disposal. Battery retailers are required to accept old batteries of the same type and quantity sold to customers. For more information on recycling lead-acid batteries, call the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Recycling Program at (804) 698-4488.

Recommended management practices

Buy batteries from companies who will pick up and transport used batteries to EPA-permitted recycling facilities or return them to the battery manufacturer. Certain used batteries can be recharged and sold as a used battery if your organization's policy permits.

Do not place batteries in the dumpster. They will be destined for landfill disposal or incineration. Federal law does not require an EPA permit for battery haulers, but some states do. Check that your spent batteries are destined for a permitted collection or reclamation operation or secondary shelter.

Dead nickel-cadmium batteries should be sent to a reclamation facility.

Storage of new and used batteries

If lead-acid batteries are to be kept for a short period of time, store them indoors and/or in a leak-proof container. Designate this area for battery storage and ensure it is well-ventilated to the outside.

If outdoor storage is necessary, a sheltered, diked, and secured area is recommended.

Place on wooden pallets one battery high and post safety signs in obvious areas. Hydrogen gas given off by batteries may be explosive in addition to the hazards of acid burns and exposures to lead.

Provide neutralizing caustic, goggles, acid-resistant gloves, aprons, and an eyewash fountain near the battery storage and acid filling area.

Make sure the quantity of sulfuric acid in the stored new and used batteries does not exceed the pound limit for reporting under SARA Title III.

Portions of information used for this Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet were gathered from Greenlink.

This Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet is just one of the many resources available to you from DEQ. DEQ, through its Office of Pollution Prevention, provides free, voluntary, non-regulatory, technical assistance and materials to industry, governments, academia, non-profit organizations, and the general public on how to prevent pollution. For more information on pollution prevention strategies and techniques, please contact: