Electricity is a precise science and batteries tend that way. If the voltage falls below a certain level a similarly-rated device won’t work properly. The auto motor cranks slowly, the flashlight is dimmer etc. If the flashlight battery is recyclable we ought to hand it in, not chuck it in the garbage. However, the second life of lead-acid batteries holds even more promise.
Why a ‘Dead’ Starter Battery Still Has a Second Life
A lead -acid auto starter battery is a powerful device. It has to be, to crank a gasoline engine into life. Consider how fast you have to push a manual gear change vehicle to achieve the same result. When the battery can no longer do the job it is not necessarily dead. It may just be putting out a slightly lower voltage than the starter motor rating.
DIY folk who like tinkering with batteries find ways to use them about the house during their second life. For example, they power their TV’s and lighting off them with suitable modifications. Others team them with solar panels to go off-grid a little, or sell the energy back to their utility. If electricity is not your beat then your ‘flat battery’ has another noble purpose.
See Lead Battery Recycling in Action
Return Your Battery to the Recycling Chain
There are better things to do with an old auto battery than leave it gathering dust in the cellar. That’s because it comprises sulfuric acid, lead plates, and a plastic case. These are not the kind of things we ought to bury in landfills. We owe the world, our world a better future than that.
The lead is particularly valuable for recycling, and there’s plenty of it in a lead-acid battery. If you are in Toronto, you could hand your old one in at our collection point but please do call (416) 848-7755 first. The Association of Battery Recyclers does a great job coordinating efforts across the border in the United States. They may even be able to recommend a pickup to take your battery forward to its second life.
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Preview Image: Old Boat Battery Ready for Second Life Recycling
