Battery recycling is a success story. Seal Lead Acid batteries for example have a 97% success rate in recycling. But how are they recycled is quite interesting.
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Lead acid batteries are transported via trucks to recycling centers. Once at recycling centers batteries are broken apart in a hammermill. Once broken the batteries components are separated into 3 categories:
Plastics, Lead, Electrolyte - Sulfuric Acid. Plastics are sent to a plastic recycler for further processing. The lead components are processed and sold back to manufacturers. The electrolyte is neutralized using an industrial grade baking soda compound and turned into water, treated, cleaned to meet clean water standards, and then released into the public sewer system.