Collect Cash for Used Batteries

Scrap Batteries: Shrink Wrapped Used BatteriesUsed car and truck batteries might not be the first thing that comes to mind when loading your truck for a trip to the scrap processing and recycling center.  However, when you realize you can be paid more than twice as much per pound for common lead-acid automobile and truck batteries as you will for heavy #1 iron, you may want to reconsider your scrap collecting strategy and add them to your priority list.

More profit is only one of the many advantages of collecting, trucking and selling end-of-life batteries (ELB) to a scrap processing and recycling center.

• Old auto and truck batteries are easily found everywhere and are required to be recycled by law. Batteries cannot be tossed into curb-side bins or disposed at most local dump.
• It takes almost no work to gather and sell used automobile and truck batteries. Virtually no cleaning or preparation is needed to ready used batteries to sell.
• By collecting and delivering end-of-life batteries to a recycling center, you are helping save the environment and solving a problem for battery owners.

Retail outlets, auto parts stores and some repair shops also accept auto and truck batteries.  However, many retail and repair outlets charge a fee of $5.00 to $10.00 to leave a lead-acid battery at their location.  Others will give you a core credit and accept your old battery if you are buying a new replacement battery from them. Occasionally, these shops will pay scrap collectors to remove used batteries making it even more profitable to collect and deliver them to a scrap metal processing and recycling center.

Follow these simple steps to turn old car and truck batteries into cash.

• Batteries are ready to sell as they are.
• Do not drain the liquid from them.
• Carefully place them in a water-proof container --especially if they are broken.
• Load them in your vehicle and bring them in to be weighed at the processing and recycling center.
• Collect your cash.

Scrap processing and recycling centers will pay you even more if you are willing to carefully stack and shrink wrap auto and truck batteries on wooden pallets.  Be sure to stack batteries three high and place cardboard between each tier and one top. Remember to shrink wrap the pallet and batteries together.  Weigh and write down the weight of the pallet and cardboard before stacking and shrink wrapping the batteries to ensure you are paid for the full net weight.

These days scrap metal and recycling dealers are very savvy and have years of experience in their industry.  Reputable dealers will require a copy of the sellers government identification, address and telephone number.  Many centers also photograph each transaction to maintain a video record of scrap metals and recyclables they purchase along with an image of the person who sold them the product.  These records help to deter the sale of stolen goods, ensure the quality of materials they purchase and to validate the integrity of their customers.

Recycling lead-acid batteries is good for our environment.

• According to the U.S. EPA, 99 percent of automobile batteries were recycled in 2006.
• Car batteries have the highest recycling rate out of all recycled materials.
• About 60 percent of the world’s lead comes from recycled car batteries.
• Lead-acid batteries use over 80 percent of the lead produced in the U.S.
• New lead-acid batteries are composed of 60 percent to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic.

Note:

As with all scrap metal processing and materials recycling use caution and follow safety rules carefully.  Lead-acid batteries are highly toxic. Sulfuric acid electrolyte is buried deep within these batteries and is a highly corrosive poison that produces flammable and toxic gases that can explode.  Sulfuric acid is a useful chemical and can be recycled to make glass, produce laundry detergent and even in the manufacture of new batteries.

• Do not open batteries or remove the little protective caps from the top.
• Handle batteries with gloves to protect your skin.
• Use protective eye and face gear.
• Do not allow the battery to come in contact with your clothing or skin.
• Most auto and truck batteries are encased in plastic or a ridged rubber base material which breaks easily if dropped or bumped.  If necessary, ask a friend to help you move and load batteries.
• Store batteries in a safe dry place such as on cement floors or on wooden pallets.
• Keep batteries away from flammable gases, potential fire areas and electrical currents.
• When stacking batteries on pallets, place a sheet of cardboard between each tier of batteries.