The U.S. lead battery industry is part of a global effort to increase responsible battery production and recycling. The industry is committed to working with others to end informal battery recycling in low and middle income countries where the practice exists.
Worldwide demand for batteries continues to grow rapidly, driven by energy storage, transportation, and industrial applications. The global lead battery industry has established guiding principles to ensure this demand is met responsibly, prioritizing worker safety, environmental protection, and sustainable recycling practices. These principles are especially critical in regions where informal or unsafe recycling practices can pose significant health and environmental risks.
In the U.S. and Europe, lead battery recycling is highly regulated. It’s also achieved in a closed loop, whereby more than 99% of lead batteries are collected and recycled into new batteries.
However, in some countries, the demand for raw materials, such as lead, has created an unregulated and improper recycling sector that can cause serious environmental and health risks for employees and nearby communities.
Together, four major organizations and their members have established seven guiding principles to increase responsible materials sourcing, manufacturing and recycling standards:
1. Support responsible battery manufacturing and recycling by placing environmental health and safety excellence at the heart of our operations.
2. Promote the sound management of lead exposure and emissions by setting continuous improvement targets and sharing best practices.
3. Adopt responsible sourcing policies for lead containing materials, seek to identify risks in the supply chain, and use our influence to promote best practices for EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) performance in suppliers’ operations.
4. Minimize the environmental impact of our products by encouraging the development of programs that ensure effective collection, transportation and environmentally sound recycling of used lead batteries.
5. Adopt business practices that consider the communities impacted by our operations, respect the human and labor rights of our employees, and work against corruption in all its forms.
6. Proactively engage key stakeholders in an open and transparent manner.
7. Partner with key stakeholders and government agencies to share our expertise and promote environmentally sound recycling of lead batteries in low and medium-income countries.
The adoption of guiding principles by the four associations formalizes the more than two decades of work by the International Lead Association (ILA) in supporting the lead battery recycling industry. That support includes technical expertise advising businesses, governments and communities around the world on the safe and environmentally sound recycling of used lead batteries.
ILA has worked closely with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Basel Convention Secretariat (BRS), the India Lead Zinc Development Association (ILZDA) and Pure Earth, an NGO that focuses on child health in communities where improper informal recycling has caused harm.
The four participating industry groups who represent lead and lead battery manufacturers and global battery recyclers are:
In the United States, lead battery manufacturing and recycling are supported by strong environmental health and safety (EHS) practices that protect workers, communities, and the environment. U.S. facilities typically operate under some of the most stringent safety and environmental regulations in the world, combining advanced air and water controls, rigorous health monitoring, and comprehensive safety training to minimize exposure risks and emissions while maintaining a circular economy.
BCI members strive to exceed federal and state requirements through voluntary programs, continuous improvement targets, and shared best practices that place employee safety and environmental stewardship at the heart of responsible material management. These EHS efforts help ensure that more than 99% of lead batteries are safely recycled into new products, supporting both sustainability and public health.
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