Did you know inside your car battery you will find toxic metals and acid? Also, you can get paid to recycle this item? As much as these tools have made our life easier, components used in them are considered hazardous for the environment. They can pollute soil as well as air and cause a myriad of problems. So, can you put the car battery in the garbage?
The answer is no. You should not directly dispose of car batteries into the garbage or household trash. These power cells need to be recycled properly to minimize their harmful effect on the environment.
This post contains everything you need to know about recycling dead car batteries. Once you are done you will have a greater understanding of what to do and what not to do with your car battery.
Can You Put The Car Battery In The Garbage?
No, you should not put your battery into the garbage. Lead acid-based batteries are an environmental hazard. The main components of car batteries are lead and sulfuric acid. These two elements can contaminate air, water, and soil which will have an adverse effect on the surrounding area.
For these reasons, batteries should not be disposed of out in the open. Putting it in the garbage will cause it to disintegrate in open space.
This will make it way easier for the toxic elements of the power cells like lead, sulfur, and other components to find entry into the human body.
Once they get inside the body, the victim will have to suffer from a plethora of physical and mental problems.
Reasons Why You Should Not Put A Car Battery In The Garbage
Exposure to lead can cause anemia, kidney and brain damage in the worst case. The high level of exposure can even lead to death. On the other hand, sulfur can contribute to respiratory problems like chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath and etc.
Once this element finds its way into the human body, it can reduce the expected life span. It is estimated that around 3 million people die each year due to the pollution caused by these batteries.
Especially, the lead can get mixed with soil and enter the human body. It can cause a myriad of cognitive and nervous discomfort and problems. On the other hand, these components also take a heavy toll on the environment.
How To Remove A Car Battery?
Before you can dispose of the battery, you will have to remove it from the car. Here is how to do it:
- Coming in contact with battery acid is dangerous. So, wear proper gloves and goggles before starting out.
- With the help of a wrench, loosen the nut of the negative terminal. It should be coated in the black or gray wire. Also, do not let the wrench touch both terminals at once.
- Now remove the wire from the positive terminal. The wire will have a red coating.
- Once you have removed the cable, check if the battery has some safety feature holding it safely. Remove it if there is any. Then grab the strap or the block at the bottom.
Where To Dispose Of Car Battery?
Once you have removed the battery, it is time to get it disposed of. The best option is to get to a battery recycling center. Or, you can also take it to an auto part store. Most auto part stores will take in older batteries and pay you a little sum or give a discount on a new one.
Battery companies take in these batteries because the components can be recycled to make new batteries. The core charge is already included with the price so when you give it back, you will get the money back.
When you are on the way, make sure you are transporting it safely. Old batteries can often leak or spill. So, keep an extra eye on them during the transport.
Are Car Batteries Considered Hazardous Waste?
The main components of lead-acid batteries are lead and sulfuric acid. Both of these elements are injurious to health let alone the environment. For this reason, batteries are considered hazardous waste.
Once these elements get released in the open, they will contaminate anything they come in contact with. In the human body, they will hinder regular bodily function.
If they get mixed with water, they will kill the aquatic animals depending on the exposure level. Everything these elements contaminate will suffer from their adverse effects.
These effects are not reduced or do not go away once the battery is dead. These are the reasons why batteries are considered hazardous waste.
Why Recycling Car Batteries Matters?
When the car battery fulfills its lifespan, the components inside can still be revived. What may seem like a dead battery to you, the internal parts can be recycled to make new batteries.
Also, releasing it in an open environment can be will contaminate everything it comes to contact with. So, properly recycling batteries is very important.
An interesting fact is that 99% of the lead plates in the battery are recycled. Not only does it keep the environment safe but also keeps the price cheap. On top of that, it will save you a few bucks as you can return it for extra cash or get a discount. That is why recycling car battery is so important.
Does Autozone Take Old Car Batteries?
Many get confused about taking their old batteries to Autozone. Although their policy is simple enough, there is still room for confusion. So, let’s get cleared.
Firstly, AutoZone does not buy batteries, they only buy dead and old batteries to recycle them. Secondly, you will get store credit for buying one. You can return the battery and get the credit if you are not getting another new battery.
Also, do not confuse the core charge with store credit. A core charge is separate from the store credit and applies to almost all batteries.
Bottom Line
So, can you put the car battery in garbage? The simple answer is no, you should not. Putting the battery in the garbage will harm the body and surroundings if they contaminate it. Also, it saves resources and money if you recycle the batteries.
On top of that, you will get a few bucks back if you don’t get a new one. So, you should not put your car battery in the garbage, instead, you should get it to a recycling center.
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