There is a growing number of golf cars and electric vehicles in use worldwide, and each one of these machines requires, on average, four to six flooded lead-acid (FLA) batteries. As a result, there is increasing demand. As larger numbers of FLA batteries reach the end of their lives and are replaced by new ones, most golf car owners and fleet operators are unaware that they are participating in a significant environmental and economic cycle.
Recycling Efforts
According to the Battery Council International (BCI), an international trade association of battery manufacturers, purchasing and recycling deep-cycle lead-acid batteries prevents millions of dead batteries from reaching landfills every year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes lead batteries as the most recycled consumer product in which nearly 100-percent of the materials in the batteries are recycled into new ones.
The recycling process breaks down the outer casings made of polypropylene, which are then washed, melted, and extruded into small pellets. Manufacturers use these pellets to produce new battery cases as well as other plastic products. The lead oxide and lead grids of the battery’s interior are melted in a smelting furnace, to form lead ingots that are used to make new battery components. The sulfuric acid in the battery’s electrolyte is neutralized and purified into water that meets EPA clean water standards before being recirculated. The acid can also be recycled through a process where it’s converted into sodium sulfate, a compound commonly used in laundry detergent, glass, and other textiles.
Economic Impact
The BCI reports that the battery industry in the United States has a $26.3-billion impact on the economy that involves suppliers, worker spending, transportation, and distribution. This includes an estimated $1.7-billion in annual payroll, supporting an industry that provides jobs for nearly 25,000 workers. Aside from studies that show lead-acid batteries are the safest and most reliable sources of energy, studies show they also represent some of the lowest cost-of-operation options available.
So the next time you replace your golf car batteries, remember to have them properly recycled. It’s comforting to know that by doing this, you are participating in a significant effort that is helping the environment. For more information on selecting the right battery for your application, as well as maintenance procedures to make your batteries last longer, visit www.usbattery.com.
