Due to the hazardous components in car batteries, it’s important to know just how you can actually recycle them and the process that goes into recycling car batteries.
The importance of car battery recycling
Did you know that it is against the law to throw away a vehicle battery with general waste or at the tip? Perhaps you need a new car battery, or maybe you’re thinking about selling your vehicle parts separately. Whatever you’re planning, you cannot throw away the battery! To help the environment and to avoid a hefty fine, car batteries must be disposed of correctly.
Most batteries contain hazardous, corrosive materials, such as sulphuric acid, and heavy metals like lead. This makes them difficult to dispose of. Therefore, it’s always best to let the experts do their thing.
But exactly where do you recycle car batteries then? Simply put, you should take it to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). These facilities specialise in recycling scrap cars and other vehicles. Most of them also recycle used car batteries. Overton Automotive collect scrap cars across the UK and are fully equipped to handle the disposal and process of recycling car batteries. That way, you can ensure they will be recycled correctly and safely.
How to recycle car batteries
If you’re looking to scrap an entire car, simply leave the car parts (including the battery) as they are and allow the experts to take care of recycling the individual parts. Any reputable vehicle dismantlers should be able to take care of this for you. Check out Overton Automotive’s vehicle recycling services for more information.
How to remove a battery from your car
If you’re thinking about removing a battery from a vehicle yourself, then follow the steps below to ensure you do this safely.
Please note, if your battery is damaged or leaking – leave it to the professionals to safely remove it for you.
Safety Precautions
Before starting, ensure the engine is turned off and the hand brake is on. Make sure to wear safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing to prevent potential battery acid burns.
Locate the Battery
Pop the hood of your car and locate the battery. It’s typically located near the front of the engine compartment. Identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals.
Disconnect the Terminals
Loosen the nut or bolt securing the negative and positive terminal cables to the battery terminal. Once loosened, carefully remove the cables from the terminals and position them away from the battery to prevent accidental reconnection.
Remove Battery Hold-Down
Many vehicles have a hold-down bracket or strap securing the battery in place. Loosen and remove the hold-down mechanism.
Lift Out the Battery
With the hold-down removed and the terminals disconnected, carefully lift the battery out of the battery tray. Batteries can be heavy, so take care to avoid strain or injury.
Once the battery is taken to the appropriate automotive facility, you can sit back, relax and let the experts take care of the car battery recycling process for you.
Can electric car batteries be recycled?
If you’re thinking of getting an electric vehicle (EV), or perhaps you already have one, you might be wondering what happens when the battery eventually dies. You may also be wondering if the electric vehicle battery can be recycled.
To put it simply, yes, EV batteries can be recycled. In fact, governments around the globe are making it mandatory for EV batteries to be designed and manufactured in a way that is easily recyclable. The European Parliament recently adopted an update which ensures vehicle batteries will be repurposed and recycled at the end of their life.
Of course, if a car battery still has some life left in it, it can be repurposed and reused. Although, when a battery has reached the end of its life, the best thing to do is to recycle it.
Many of the materials in EV batteries can be difficult to source. So, it’s crucial to ensure these materials are recycled properly, instead of ending up as waste in landfill.
Take a look at this guide to see how electric car batteries are recycled.
Where do you recycle car batteries?
If you’re in need of recycling car batteries, you should take them to a licensed vehicle recycling facility. At Overton Automotive, we offer vehicle recycling services across the UK.
Whether you have an entire car to recycle, or just a few parts, we’ll handle it all for you. We care about vehicles, customers and the environment and are proud to be one of the UK’s leading vehicle recycling and green parts facilities.
What do we do with car batteries at Overton Automotive?
At Overton Automotive, after we remove each battery, we test and check for any life left in the cells and give a Battery Test Report prior to storing and re-selling. Any batteries which are completely dead are stored in a dedicated battery box that meets all the regulatory requirements before being collected by one of our nominated and licensed battery recyclers.
Thinking about recycling your vehicle? Or maybe you’re looking to purchase a spare car part? Get in touch with our friendly team to find out more information on what you’re looking for.
