Getting rid of an old car battery isn’t as easy as throwing it out in your regular rubbish bin at home and hoping for the best, or leaving it on the side of the road for another person to come pick up.

Old car batteries and other lead-acid batteries that are used in cars, motorcycles, boats, emergency lighting, and air-conditioners contain lead, lead compounds and/or sulphuric acid. The chemical mixture of corrosive battery acid and other internal components is considered hazardous waste and can greatly impact the environment.

So, what can you do to get rid of your old car battery? That’s what we hope to help you with here. While disposing of an old car battery can be tricky, as council pickups cannot take hazardous items from you like paint tins, gas cylinders and old car batteries, there are options to make sure they are recycled safely.

How to dispose of car batteries

How to Recycle Your Old Car Battery

So, what can you do to get rid of your old car battery safely, efficiently and sustainably?

There are plenty of free ways that you can recycle your old car battery:

  • Automotive dealers, mechanics, most car workshops, service stations, scrap metal dealers and car battery retailers will accept an old car battery for recycling. If in doubt, when you buy a new car battery, ask if the retailer or dealership can recycle your old one.
  • Century Yuasa has established an Australian-wide network of Battery Recycling Centres that contribute to environmentally responsible collection and recycling of used lead-acid batteries.
  • The 1300 Rubbish team can assist you or your local business, offering advice for lead-acid battery recycling services as well as pick up. If you would like to enquire about disposing of your old car battery, click here.
  • If you are familiar with your local recycling centres, you can pop in and drop off your old car and lead batteries for sustainable recycling.
  • Some states and councils provide household hazardous waste or chemical collection programs that accept used lead-acid batteries for recycling. Councils in NSW have events called Household Chemical Clean Outs, where residents can dispose of used car batteries for free. Check with your council directly. 

Why Should You Recycle Your Old Car Battery?

Recycling a battery would be much easier if you could just dispose of it in your yellow lidded bin for collection, however, that is extremely dangerous and detrimental to the environment. Lead-acid batteries contain a chemical mixture that is hazardous to workers and can leach into the water table from landfill, severely polluting the environment.

Car batteries, which contain lead and sulfuric acid, must be disposed of sustainably and responsibly through mandated recycling programs. Lead-acid batteries should under no circumstances be put in your recycling or garbage bin at home.

Dumping Your Old Car Battery Is Illegal

Car batteries are under a hazardous materials classification as they are comprised of dangerous, heavy materials such as mercury, alkaline, cadmium, nickel, lead and sulfuric acid, all of which are toxic substances, causing pollution and threatening the environment.

How Your Old Car Battery Is Recycled

A car battery, and other lead-acid batteries, can be reconditioned or recycled into new products that are made from the lead, sulphuric acid and polypropylene. Surprisingly, around 97% of these materials are recyclable, with the recycling process using less energy than refining primary ore.

When taken to a recycling centre or collected through recycling programs, a car battery is disassembled, and the different components are collected in preparation for recycling. These components will usually comprise:

  • Lead: Often melted down and used to make new batteries
  • Metallic plates and connectors
  • Battery containers and lids (polypropylene): Plastic is recycled to make new battery cases, rubbish bins, playground equipment and plant pots.
  • Sulphuric acids: Converted to sodium sulphate to be used in the manufacture of glass, textiles, laundry detergents, and fertilisers.

Car batteries can also be repurposed for uses other than their original intent, like powering off-grid power systems, such as solar panels, or even as a backup power source for homes or an RV. More creative individuals have used lead-acid batteries in projects like powering sensors or even wearables.

Consider Donating Your Old Battery

While it may not be very common, when looking to get rid of your battery, you can donate it for other uses. Organisations specialising in electronics may use an old car battery for powering backup systems or lighting in remote areas.

If this interests you, local charities and non-profit organisations in your area can provide you with more information on how you can donate your battery and what future purpose will be used for.

How To Organise Getting Rid Of Your Old Car Battery

Before sending your car battery off for a new life, you may want to consider how you will get rid of it. Here are a few things that you should do before disposing of your old car battery:

  • Contact a hazardous waste service provider: If you are in need of assistance or don’t have time to take a used battery to a recycling station yourself, it would be best to contact a specialised provider for proper disposal.
  • Do your research: Looking to purchase a new battery? Do your research, as you might be able to find a retailer that will give you a discount if you give them your old battery for recycling.
  • Find a recycling facility specialising in hazardous waste near you: It is important when you recycle your battery that you take it to a facility that is equipped to handle hazardous materials, including car batteries. You can find these waste facilities in your area by contacting your local government or searching online.
  • Sell your used battery: Perhaps your old battery still works a little, you may be able to sell it on an online marketplace to someone who needs it.
  • Tape down the battery terminals: It is best practice that before you simply drop off your battery that you tape the battery terminals to prevent short circuits and potential fire hazards. 

Safety Tips for Old Car Battery Disposal

Regardless of how you dispose of your old car battery, it is important to handle it with care to avoid injury or damage. To ensure you get rid of your battery safely, keep these tips in mind.

Whether you’re recycling, selling, donating, or disposing of your old car battery, it’s important to handle it carefully to avoid injury or damage. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

  1. When handling your old car battery, wear safety glasses and a thick pair of gloves.
  2. Avoid tilting, shaking or shifting your battery, keeping it upright.
  3. Keep flammable materials away from your battery. Do not smoke or use any open flames near the battery as it contains combustibles.
  4. When transporting your battery, secure it properly so it does not tip over.

Find Old Car Battery Disposal Across Australia with 1300 Rubbish

Need to dispose of your old dirty batteries but don’t want to get your clean car dirty or drive all the way to the nearest centre to do so? 1300 Rubbish can step in, taking your car batteries off your hands and disposing of them responsibly and sustainably.

Give us a call at 1800 190 036 and chat to our friendly team to organise your old car battery pick-up so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting.

We can also help you recycle batteries in electronics with our e-waste rubbish removal services.

FAQ

What Do I Do My Business Needs To Recycle Lead-Acid Batteries In Bulk?

If your workplace or business has large quantities of car batteries or other types of lead-acid batteries to recycle, visit Business Recycling to find a suitable drop-off or pick-up service near you.