Everything you need to know about recycling lead-acid batteries
Warning!
Lead-acid batteries like car batteries should never be put in your recycling or garbage bin. They are hazardous waste items that must be disposed of responsibly to prevent toxic materials entering the environment and fires starting in garbage trucks.
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Learn more about recycling lead-acid batteries
How to recycle car batteries
Lead-acid batteries are used in cars, motorcycles, boats, air conditioners and emergency lighting (i.e. exit signs). Old and used lead-acid batteries are hazardous waste items that must be recycled responsibly. They cannot be recycled by putting them in your recycling bin at home.
There are a few ways you can recycle used car batteries.
Recycling scheme
A national network of Battery Recycling Centres has been established by Century Yuasa for environmentally responsible collection and recycling of used lead-acid batteries. Use the directory on this page to find a recycling point near you.
Car workshops and metal recyclers
Most car workshops, scrap metal dealers and service stations will accept used car batteries for recycling. Check with your car battery vendor when purchasing a new battery to see if they will accept the old one.
Roadside assistance
Most roadside assistance services will take your use battery when they replace it with a new one. Check directly with your service.
Household hazardous waste collection
Some states and councils provide household hazardous waste or chemical collection programs that accept used lead-acid batteries for recycling. Check with your council directly.
Why recycle?
Around 97% of the materials used in lead-acid batteries can be recycled and used again to make new products. This reduces demand for mining new materials like lithium, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling car batteries keeps Earth’s valuable resources in use and prevents them from wasting away in landfill.
Used car batteries and other lead-acid batteries also contain toxic and hazardous materials such as lead and sulphuric acid. When batteries reach their end of life and become ‘waste’, if the battery is sent to landfill or illegally dumped, these hazardous materials can enter the environment, posing a threat to wildlife and human health.
What happens to them?
Car batteries and other lead-acid batteries can be reconditioned or recycled into new products made from the lead, sulphuric acid and polypropylene. Recycling used lead-acid batteries uses less energy than refining primary ore.
When lead-acid batteries are collected through recycling programs, they are taken to a battery recycling plant where the battery is broken apart to separate it into different components (lead, metallic plates and connectors, polypropylene and other plastics, and acid electrolyte).
The recycled lead is often used to make new batteries. Sulphuric acid is converted to sodium sulfate to be used in the manufacture of glass, textiles, laundry detergents, and fertilisers.?Battery containers and lids (made from polypropylene) can also be recycled to make new battery cases, rubbish bins and plant pots.
How to recycle electric car batteries
Electric car batteries contain lots of valuable materials including aluminium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, steel and lithium.
With the appropriate infrastructure and equipment, lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles can be recycled. Unfortunately, a product stewardship scheme that recycles electric vehicle batteries does not currently exist in Australia. If you need to recycle a battery from an electric car or bike, contact the manufacturer for advice.
Many electric vehicle manufacturers and battery recyclers are working on ways to make these batteries easier to recycle and more sustainable. Aside from recycling, there is also potential for used electric car batteries to be repurposed, including for use as solar energy storage systems.
Recycling other types of batteries
Regular household batteries
Australia has a national product stewardship scheme for regular household batteries called B-cycle. This program has partnered with approximately 100 organisations across Australia to provide recycling drop-off points for the public.
Mobile phone batteries
Mobile phone batteries are accepted by MobileMuster, with thousands of recycling locations located across the country.
Laptop batteries
Computer batteries can be recycled through an accredited recycler of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are car batteries recyclable?
Yes, around 97% of the materials used in car batteries and other lead-acid batteries can be recycled and used again to make new products.
Used lead-acid batteries are a hazardous item and must be recycled through a recycling program. They should never be put in your household recycling or garbage bin. Use the information on this page to find a recycling point near you.
How do you recycle car batteries?
There are a number of ways to recycle used lead-acid car batteries in Australia. As they are considered a hazardous waste item, some councils will accept them at household hazardous waste collection events (check directly with your council).
A national network of Battery Recycling Centres has been established by Century Yuasa for environmentally responsible collection and recycling of used lead-acid batteries.
Most car workshops, scrap metal dealers and service stations will accept used car batteries for recycling. Check with your car battery vendor when purchasing a new battery.
Use the search bar on this page to find a recycler near you.
How are car batteries recycled?
Lead-acid car batteries (used for the electrical systems in most cars) can be taken to your nearest collection point – use the information on this page to find your closest recycler.
When lead-acid car batteries are recycled, they are broken apart in a hammer mill. The metals are then separated from the plastics so they can be reused in new products. The sulphuric acid can also be recycled into new products like detergents and fertilisers.
How much does it cost to recycle a car battery?
Lead-acid car batteries can be recycled for free at your nearest collection point – use the search bar on this page to find your closest location.
How much do you get for recycling a car battery?
Lead-acid car batteries can be recycled for free at your nearest collection point – use the search bar on this page to find your closest recycler.
Community recycling programs run by councils will not offer a payment, but they will accept your used battery for free. It’s possible some commercial recyclers offer payment for used lead-acid batteries (contact the recycler directly to check).
Are electric car batteries recyclable?
Electric car batteries contain lots of valuable materials including aluminium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, steel, and lithium.
Lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars can technically be recycled with appropriate infrastructure and equipment. Currently, in Australia, they are not as easy to recycle as lead acid batteries. Fortunately, many electric car manufacturers and battery recyclers are continually working on ways to make these batteries easier to recycle and more sustainable.
Aside from recycling, there is also potential for used electric car batteries to be repurposed, including for use as solar energy storage systems.
Are lithium car batteries recyclable?
Lithium-ion batteries used in electric and hybrid vehicles are recyclable and contain lots of valuable resources including aluminium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, steel, and lithium. However, in Australia, they are currently not as easy to recycle than lead acid car batteries used in most standard cars.
Fortunately, many car manufacturers and battery recyclers are continually working on ways to make Lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles easier to recycle and more sustainable. Aside from recycling, there is also potential for lithium car batteries to be repurposed, including for use as solar energy storage systems.
Can hybrid car batteries be recycled?
Lithium-ion batteries used in modern hybrid cars are recyclable and contain many valuable resources including aluminium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, steel, and lithium. However, hybrid car batteries are currently not easily recycled in Australia.
Fortunately, many car manufacturers and battery recyclers are continually working on ways to make these batteries easier to recycle and more sustainable. Aside from recycling, there is also potential for hybrid car batteries to be repurposed, including for use as solar energy storage systems.
