The ABIA is dedicated to responsible recycling programs for used lead-acid batteries (ULAB). The Association's reviews over a number of decades indicate an average annual Australian recycling rate for spent automotive lead acid batteries in excess of 96%, which continue to reflect superb 'cradle to grave' recycling outcomes. That such recycling rates are achieved via voluntary collection schemes and without the need for government intervention programs should be a matter of great pride to all concerned.
The Association’s Code of Practice recognises the concept of Product Stewardship and mandates a responsibility on all Members to encourage battery re-cycling via their battery labelling, to promote the recyclability of automotive batteries to their re-sellers, to accept back spent batteries from their customers ‘one for one’ whenever requested, and to transfer spent batteries to bona fide scrap metal collectors and re-cyclers.
Compared with other common consumer items, automotive lead acid batteries easily lead the way in recycling outcomes as illustrated on the following graph.
*Publicly available data 2015
#Tyres recovery rate includes burning for energy and licensed diversion to landfill.
With approximately 95% of a spent automotive lead acid battery recoverable for reuse, high recycling outcomes translate to high resource conservation. The Circle of Life of the automotive lead acid battery is as follows.