How to Dispose of Car Batteries in Australia

Wondering about how to dispose of your car battery? If so, then this article is for you!

This article will explain the best way to dispose of your car batteries and what recycling centres accept them. There are many places around Australia that accept old or used car batteries and we have listed some below. We hope this information helps answer any questions you may have had about getting rid of your old battery.

But first, let’s quickly look at the basics of car batteries and their environmental impact if disposed of incorrectly.

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Why recycle your car battery?

Lead-acid batteries are an essential part of modern life, being found in cars along with many other commercial and industrial vehicles and machines. However, an automotive lead-acid battery becomes toxic waste as it degrades over time. The sulfuric acid, lead and lead compounds found in batteries can contaminate land or water if disposed of incorrectly and are dangerous to humans.

When it’s time to recycle your spent car battery you can take comfort knowing it is possible to recycle all parts responsibly. In this process, the acid in the battery is neutralised and the polymers and lead in the battery are separated.

What’s more, recycled batteries can be used to create new batteries, which requires less energy than mining raw materials and creating a new battery from scratch.

Thanks to battery recycling they can be recycled instead of being disposed of. Recycling batteries keeps our earth clean by reducing the number of toxic chemicals that go into it!

Can you just put a car battery in regular recycling?

Recycling a car battery involves more than simply placing it in your recycling bin, as recycling them involves a special process not available at regular recycling plants.

Therefore, you can’t put your car battery in regular recycling and need to instead take it to a special car battery recycling facility. Fortunately, there are many of these around so you shouldn’t have to travel too far.

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Where can I recycle my car battery in Australia?

Many large automotive and battery stores offer free recycling of car batteries. These include:

Many smaller stores also offer this service so have a search on Google maps and see what’s most convenient for you.

The below resources may also be helpful for finding your closest recycling facility:

Car Battery Recycling FAQ

How many years do car batteries last?

Car batteries will last for about four years before they are unusable. Factors that impact the life of a car battery include the number of hot, cold, and damp days. Heat or humidity in the car can reduce battery life by 20 percent to 40 percent a year depending on how it is used. Car batteries lose their charge gradually so they will still work for weeks or months but their capacity slowly reduces over time.

How can you tell if car battery needs replacing?

If your car battery is not holding a charge, it’s time to replace it. If the alternator or ignition system checks out okay and you still can’t get any power to start your engine even when trying several times, then most likely you need a new battery.

What’s the price of a car battery?

Car batteries cost approximately $200 in Australia. Stop/Start car batteries will cost around $400. Popular brands include Optima, Century, and Panasonic.

How do I dispose of my old car battery?

The best thing to do with an old car battery is to recycle it. If you take your old battery to a recycling center, they can then reuse the metals within and turn them into new batteries.

Does Repco replace batteries?

Automotive batteries can be recycled free of charge at any Repco stores nationwide.

What happens to a car battery if you just throw it in the bin?

A car battery contains heavy metals, toxic chemicals and acid which can pollute water supplies and cause injury when handled. Car batteries are an environmental hazard because they contain lead and sulphuric acid that is environmentally hazardous.

Can I get money for old car batteries?

Old car batteries are not worth much, but some scrap works will pay a small sum for old batteries. Some will even collect the batteries from you, especially if you have a few to dispose of.