Old Car Batteries: Why They're Worth Bringing In

Cold mornings are hard on car batteries, and plenty of people end up with a dead one sitting in the garage. Don't put it in the bin. A lead-acid battery is mostly lead, it's worth money as scrap, and lead and battery acid are harmful in landfill.

We buy lead-acid batteries from cars, utes, trucks, boats, tractors and forklifts, along with deep-cycle and marine batteries, and send them for recycling. They're among the most recycled products there are.

Leave the acid in. Bring batteries in whole, with the caps on and the acid inside. Never drain them: battery acid is corrosive, and spilling it is dangerous for you and the environment.

Carry them upright. Stand the battery in a tub or tray in the boot or the back of the ute, so it can't tip over, and cover the terminals if they might touch metal. If a battery is cracked or leaking, call us before you bring it in.

Lithium batteries are another story. Phone, laptop, power tool, e-bike and e-scooter batteries can catch fire when they're crushed, so we can't take them. B-cycle drop-off points, at many supermarkets and hardware stores, take them for recycling.

Other lead is worth bringing too. Roof flashing, sheet and pipe, lead wheel weights, dive weights and fishing sinkers are all bought as lead. It's heavy, so even a small amount adds up. Wear gloves when you handle it, and wash your hands afterwards.

Bring your batteries to our Hallam yard, whole and upright, with your photo ID and bank details, and we'll weigh them and pay you by bank transfer.