Lead batteries reign as the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today and the most sustainable battery technology; 98% of lead batteries are safely recycled in an established, coast-to-coast network of advanced recycling facilities.
Bridging the old to new is the lead battery industry’s specialty. Lead battery manufacturers design lead batteries for recycling, making them the most recycled consumer product in America, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That’s made lead batteries the gold standard in how to create a highly successful, closed-loop, domestic circular economy – one where no other industry can compare.
The lead battery industry has optimized the fact that lead in lead batteries can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality or performance. At their end of life, lead batteries are separated into three key components – all of which are 100% recyclable – lead, plastic and acid. They are then turned into the valuable raw materials U.S. manufacturers need to create new lead batteries and restart the cycle of use-recycle-remanufacture.
The lead battery success story is grounded in the industry’s nationwide lead battery and recycling infrastructure designed to recycle, reuse and remanufacture the primary components of a battery: plastic, acid and lead. The closed-loop system is not only a model of recycling, but the world’s most successful example of a circular economy. That success equates as:
The health and safety of workers in the lead battery industry is a top priority for BCI members. From rigorous training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to environmental controls and regular health monitoring, member facilities implement comprehensive programs designed to protect employees on the job and beyond.
The lead battery recycling industry also fosters a culture of safety that goes beyond compliance. Regular refresher training, safety audits, and engagement initiatives ensure that employees remain informed, empowered, and actively involved in maintaining a safe workplace. By combining advanced safety protocols with ongoing education and monitoring, facilities protect not only their workforce but also the surrounding communities.
The U.S. lead battery industry, with its established circular infrastructure, is a model for other countries and battery energy storage chemistries in how to responsibly source, use, reuse and manage materials.
The industry is committed to working with others to end informal battery recycling in other parts of the world.
The domestic lead battery industry is still thriving after more than 100 years of operation, offering good-paying jobs in rural communities that prove American manufacturing is alive and well.
