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What is inside a lead-acid battery
A lead-acid battery is a plastic case holding lead plates and lead paste, sitting in diluted sulphuric acid. Almost all of it can be recovered. The lead is smelted and refined, the plastic case is cleaned and reused, and the acid is neutralised or processed.
The value is in the lead, which is why old batteries are always in demand. The danger is also in the lead and the acid.
Safety first
Never do these:
- Do not break open a battery to take out the lead plates.
- Do not drain or pour out the acid, on the ground, into drains or anywhere else.
- Do not burn battery cases or any part of a battery.
- Do not store batteries where children or animals can reach them.
Lead is toxic. Breaking batteries or melting lead in the open is how most battery-related poisoning happens. Battery acid causes serious burns and damages soil and water.
How to store old batteries
- Keep them upright, so acid cannot leak out of the vents.
- Store them on a hard surface or in a plastic tray, not directly on soil.
- Keep them under cover, away from rain and direct heat.
- Do not stack them high. A falling battery can crack its case.
- Tape over the terminals or keep them apart, so two batteries cannot short against each other or against metal.
- Keep cracked or leaking batteries separate, in an acid-resistant container, and tell your buyer before collection.
Why the buyer matters
India regulates waste batteries under extended producer responsibility rules. Battery producers are responsible for collecting and recycling batteries, and recyclers are expected to be registered and to process batteries in proper facilities.
In practice, an old battery can end up in two very different places:
| Route | What happens |
|---|---|
| Registered recycler | Batteries are broken mechanically, lead is smelted with emission controls, acid is treated, plastic is recovered. |
| Informal breaking | Batteries are broken by hand, acid is poured away, lead is melted in the open. |
The informal route sometimes offers a slightly higher rate. It is also where the damage happens, and for a business it can create problems with your own compliance and records.
Getting a fair price
- Whole, intact batteries are worth more than cracked or drained ones.
- Vehicle, inverter and UPS batteries are usually priced by weight or by piece. Ask which.
- Larger, heavier batteries contain more lead and fetch more per piece.
- Volume helps. Workshops and battery dealers with regular quantities should agree a collection schedule.
- Ask for a receipt or invoice. For a business, keep it with your records.
If you are replacing a battery, ask the seller whether they take the old one back. Many battery dealers run exchange or buy-back schemes.
See also: E-waste rules in India.
How we handle batteries. We collect batteries upright, keep them intact, and tell you where they are going. We will not buy batteries that have been broken open or drained.
Have old batteries to clear?
Tell us how many batteries you have, the type (vehicle, inverter, UPS) and your town. We will tell you how to store them until collection.