Recycling also reduces dispersal of lead in the environment and conserves mineral resources for the future when undertaken in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Recovery of lead from batteries is easier and requires significantly less energy than producing primary lead from ore.
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Obtaining secondary lead from used lead-acid batteries can be economically attractive, depending upon the market price of lead. Recycling prevents the emission of lead into the environment and also avoids the energy usage associated with manufacturing lead from virgin resources. Lead from storage batteries placed in unlined landfills can even contaminate the groundwater. Recycling of used lead-acid batteries, provided it is done in an environmentally sound manner, is important because it keeps the batteries out of the waste stream destined for final disposal. Recycling of used lead acid batteries is a complex process A single lead-acid battery disposed of incorrectly into a municipal solid waste collection system, and not removed prior to entering a resource recovery facility for mixed MSW, could contaminate 25 tonnes of MSW and prevent the recovery of the organic resources within this waste because of high lead level. Lead is highly toxic metal and once the battery becomes inoperative, it is necessary to ensure its proper collection and eco-friendly recycling. Rag-pickers scour waste dumps, strip abandoned vehicles and wrecks and even collect batteries that have been used for standby power in domestic houses.
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Many of these vehicles have a used lead acid battery, which is removed from the vehicle and shipped to Venezuela for recycling.Īn informal collection mechanism is through rag-pickers who scavenge for discarded materials that can be reused or recycled. In the Caribbean islands there is a thriving second-hand auto trade and thousands of used Japanese cars are imported into the region every year to be broken up for spares. In several parts of the world, reconditioned lead-acid batteries are offered for sale. In some countries a deposit has to be paid when a new battery is purchased and is only returned to the customer when the battery is returned to the retailer for recycling. The most common and most efficient method for the collection of lead-acid batteries is through the battery retailer where a discount is given against the purchase price of a new battery provided the customer returns the used battery. In the developing world, more than 3 million die each year due to lead contamination from processing of used lead-acid batteries, with South America, South Asia and Africa being the highest affected regions. Around 96% lead is used in the common lead-acid battery, while the remaining 4% in other applications including wheel balance weights, protective coatings and vibration dampers. On average, each automobile manufactured contains approximately 12 kilograms of lead. Lead is a highly toxic metal that produces a range of adverse health effects particularly in young children.Įxposure to excessive levels of lead can cause damage to brain and kidney, impair hearing and lead to numerous other associated problems. The acid is extremely corrosive and is also a good carrier for soluble lead and lead particulate. Lead-acid batteries contain sulphuric acid and large amounts of lead. Lead-acid batteries finds wide application in all modes of modern transport including cars, trucks, buses, boats, trains, rapid mass-transit systems, recreational vehicles etc.ĭuring power-cuts, lead-acid batteries provide emergency power for critical operations such as air-traffic control towers, hospitals, railroad crossings, military installations, submarines, and weapons systems. All automotive batteries and 95 percent of industrial batteries are lead-acid secondary cells.
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They act as power sources in a wide-range of equipment and appliances used by households, commerce and industry. Lead-acid batteries are widely used on a mass-scale in all parts of the world.