Study claims lead batteries are most recycled consumer product in US

Battery Council International (BCI), a Chicago-based trade association representing the global battery manufacturing and recycling industry, has released a study that claims the U.S. lead battery industry has maintained a 99 percent recycling rate—the highest of any consumer product in the country.

The National Recycling Rate Study, commissioned by BCI and performed by McLean, Virginia-based Vault Consulting, is updated periodically. The most recent study aggregates data for the five-year reporting period of 2017-2021. BCI says the circular economy for lead battery industry has not only led to a high recycling rate but also keeps 160 million batteries out of landfills each year.

In its report, BCI shows, comparatively, that aluminum cans carry a 50 percent recycling rate in the U.S., followed by consumer electronics (39 percent), plastic bottles (29 percent) and lithium-ion batteries (less than 15 percent).

BCI President and Executive Director Roger Miksad says the achievement in lead battery recycling underscores BCI members’ commitment to environmental sustainability and highlights the battery industry’s foothold in advancing responsible recycling practices.

“I’m honored to lead Battery Council International at this pivotal moment for the battery manufacturing and recycling industry,” Miksad says. “Achieving a sustained recycling rate of 99 percent for lead batteries over the past decade proves our members’ dedication to sustainable manufacturing practices. Together, we’ll continue to drive innovation, advance recycling technologies and promote responsible battery life cycle management.”

Miksad adds that lead batteries are an important part of the nation’s transition to clean energy storage, and recycling raw materials instead of relying on newly mined minerals significantly reduces the manufacturing footprint for batteries. He says lead batteries are critical to a low-carbon future by being a critical component in many sustainable applications.

BCI says the led battery recycling rate calculated for the five-year period in question is reached by dividing the total pounds of lead batteries recycled by the total pounds of lead available for recycling in the U.S. To account for significant market disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, BCI says the study averaged the organization’s recycling rate studies spanning the decade of 2011-2021 to derive the sustained recycling rate of 99 percent.

Overall, BCI says its study confirms the achievements of the lead battery industry in perfecting recycling processes and a circular economy for lead batteries.

“The lead battery industry is minimizing the environmental impact of battery disposal with a highly successful circular ‘manufacture-use-reuse’ model,” Miksad says. “It has become the blueprint for newer battery chemistries, as well as other industries.”

According to BCI, lead batteries are designed to be recycled, with its three main components—lead, plastic and acid—being 100 percent recyclable. The organization says the typical new lead battery is formed of at least 80 percent recycled material, and the lead from the batteries can be infinitely recycled with no loss of performance. It adds that U.S. lead battery manufacturers source approximately 83 percent of the needed lead from North American recycling facilities.

BCI also reports the existence of a vast network of existing manufacturing, collection and recycling facilities, including more than 300,000 retail distribution and collection sites for used lead batteries. By promoting collaboration among stakeholders, BCI says it aims to develop robust recycling systems that support a circular economy and help the responsible management of battery scrap.

“By working closely with industry partners, policymakers and the public, BCI is working hard to meet our energy storage needs now and well into the electrified future,” Miksad says.