A battery is a vital component for a car, but it contains many hazardous chemicals. When the time comes for it to be replaced, it can be tricky to know for sure how it should safely be disposed of. We’ll take you through the safest way to remove your battery, and explain exactly what you should do with old car batteries.
How To Dispose Of Old Car Batteries
To put it simply, old car batteries can’t be disposed of in the same way you would get rid of your usual residential waste. All car batteries should be safely recycled in one of a range of local facilities, including scrap metal dealers, garages, and recycling centres.
As car batteries are designed with a whole host of toxic chemicals that can be dangerous not only for the environment, but our health too, they need to processed by experts. For instance, car batteries consist of hydrofluoric acid, which has the potential to permanently damage our lungs and eyes. As a result, the battery should be in the hands of an expert who knows precisely how to safely dispose of car batteries.
Can You Take Car Batteries To The Tip?
Local Household Waste Recycling Centres (the tip) or Waste Sites often accept used car batteries, however it is important to check exactly which ones do. Recyclenow offers a search for your local area.
Batteries need to go through a thorough clean-up process before going to landfill, so taking them to local facilities means the lead and other components can be recovered and reused.
How To Safely Remove And Transport An Old Battery
If you need to remove your old car battery follow these steps to stay safe:
- Double check that the battery is in fact broken, and not flat. A flat battery can easily be recharged, and so to scrap the battery would be unnecessary. To inspect the car battery, you’ll need to turn off the ignition, and disconnect the battery from the car. Ensure you’re wearing protective clothing, like gloves, at all times during the removal.
- Disconnect the terminals, starting with the negative first, and then the positive one. You may notice a clasp holding the car battery in place, if you do, be sure to remove this too.
- Once again, take a quick look around the battery’s exterior for any leaks. If the battery is leaking, contact a professional mechanic to remove it.
- If you’re happy that it is safe to do so, remove the battery and place it in a sturdy plastic bag.
- During transport, keep the battery upright and cover the terminals so they don’t short circuit.
- Finally, recycle your battery. As mentioned above, you can take your damaged battery to a number of local facilities.
The last thing anyone needs is a damaged car battery. Luckily, at CarParts4Less, we have an extensive range of car batteries to get you back on the road as well as other essential parts like wiper blades, engine oil and car bulbs. Don’t forget to make full use of our excellent UK delivery service, where we’ll get your specialist car part to you in no time.
