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Auto Batteries
It is illegal in New York State to discard a car battery in the trash or on the street.
A typical auto battery weighs 36 pounds and contains nearly 18 pounds of lead, a toxic metal, and one gallon of sulfuric acid, a corrosive liquid. For information about these toxic materials, visit materials of concern in lead-acid batteries.
Pay a little more for longer-life lead-acid batteries to reduce the frequency of battery replacement.
Consider sealed gel-cell batteries. The acid is in semi-solid gel form, rather than liquid, so a cracked gel cell does not leak. They last up to two times longer, do not require the addition of sulfuric acid, and involve less maintenance because no corrosion forms on the terminals.
Recycle
Return automotive batteries toany service station or auto supply store that sells them. When you buy a new battery, you pay a $5 surcharge. If you return your “dead” battery when you purchase a new one, you avoid the surcharge. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is responsible for enforcing this law.
Auto Batteries
or call 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332).
