When your car’s battery dies, you may wonder what to do with it. You no longer have a use for the battery, but disposing of a car battery in the way you would other pieces of junk is not an option. 12-volt lead batteries—those found in most standard vehicles—can leak battery acid, and the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in hybrid vehicles carry cadmium—a substance too toxic for landfills. The best option for your used battery is to recycle it.

Denver Metal Recycling is an industrial and commercial recycling center in Denver, CO. Among their services, they offer auto battery recycling options. Below, they explain some of the benefits of auto battery recycling, and how you can go about doing it.

Benefits of Auto Battery Recycling

It is estimated that 99% of all used 12-volt batteries in the US are turned in for recycling. 97% of the lead in these batteries can be re-used. The plastic components of the battery can be re-purposed, as well as the sulfuric acid from the battery, which can be converted to sodium sulfate and used as fertilizer.

The NiMH batteries in hybrids and the lithium-ion (Li Ion) batteries in electric cars are capable of being re-used and re-purposed as well. Although these batteries cannot be re-used in other vehicles, they can be used for energy storage in solar and wind farms.

How to Recycle Your Battery

There are a few options available if you decide to recycle your auto battery. Most car dealerships accept older batteries and take care of the recycling themselves. The company Toxco has a grant from the Department of Energy to accept recycled Li Ion batteries, so this is an option as well, but it is most commonly used by car manufacturers. You can also reach out to a company like Denver Metal Recycling, which accepts scrap cars and auto parts for recycling.

To learn more about Denver Metal Recycling’s auto battery recycling, metal recycling, and electronic recycling options, visit their website today. For all other information or to schedule a drop off for your metal recycling, call (303) 316-2880.