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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.

Auto batteries can be recycled, and are accepted at any service station, auto supply store, or NYC Department of Sanitation Special Waste Drop-Off Site.

Reduce

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 to any 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 is responsible for enforcing this law. If you have problems returning auto batteries, contact NYSDEC.

You can also bring “dead” car batteries to any NYC Department of Sanitation Special Waste Drop-Off Site. Do not place batteries in your recycling bin.

ALSO SEE the batteries section in resources for links to additional information.

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