By any measure, lead-acid batteries and the environment are one of the environmental success stories of our lifetime. More than 98 percent of all battery lead and plastic is recycled, making the lead-acid battery the recycled leader of all consumer products.

The life cycle of a lead-acid battery follows a continuous, closed loop. The typical new lead-acid battery is made with 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. When a spent battery is collected and returned to a permitted recycler, its lead and plastic are reclaimed and directed to new battery manufacturing.

Lead-acid battery safety efforts by the battery industry have led to the adoption of battery recycling laws in 38 states while five others have disposal bans. What other industry works so hard to steward its product from the beginning of its service life, through distribution, collection of old product, recycling and reclamation, and back to another service life? What other industry takes responsibility to meet stringent environmental regulations that protect the environment while providing a critical recycling service?

Air Filtration, Clean Water, Clean Air, Work Practices, Fugitive Emissions

More than 80 percent of lead produced in the United States is used in lead-acid batteries. The battery industry takes pride in its advanced technology and common sense practices that dramatically reduce lead emissions from manufacturing and recycling facilities.

The battery industry is regulated by local, state, and federal agencies, which inspect manufacturing and recycling plants to verify that the companies are meeting standards.

When taken together, all of these practices add up to a very responsible effort on the part of lead-acid battery manufacturers and recyclers to keep even small amounts of lead out of the environment. Together, the efforts make a measureable difference.