Car Battery
Car batteries contain toxic chemicals. Handle with care.
Lead acid battery recycling is one of the world's most successful recycling programmes.
97% of a lead acid battery can be recycled in most circumstances. Lead acid batteries consist of lead and lead oxide plates, water, sulfuric acid and other additives like calcium, silver, carbon, argon, tin and arsenic to enhance battery performance.
The lead, plastic and acid components are re-processed and manufactured into an array of other products including guide posts, cabling and detergents. Battery recycling minimises the risk to you and the Earth from these toxins.
See also battery
Car batteries can be recycled free of charge at the Whanganui Resource Recovery Centre. Car batteries are uplifted by local company, an agent for Marshall/Exide, which sends them on to Palmerston North and Wellington. A lot of car batteries are sent back to Thailand for processing, also to Slovakia and Poland.
Car batteries can also be dropped off at Supercheap Auto (449 Victoria Avenue) and Repco (19 Wilson Street).
Batteries not able to be recycled include:
- Lithium Ion Battery or Li-Ion usually found in Hybrid or Electric vehicles
- Nickel Metal Hydride Battery or NiMH. Similar to the Lithium Ion and often used in Hybrid vehicles and some electric vehicles
Lead acid batteries must not be placed in home recycling or waste bins to be sent to landfill. The lead and acid may contaminate other recycled materials and render them unusable.