What do you do with old batteries?

[Vanterrier]

I seem to have accumulated a small number of bulky old car and leisure batteries, some have some life in them, most are dead. Most are old style lead acid batteries but the latest is a whopping 40kg AGM battery.
I thought the lead in them might be worth a couple of Bob but don't know where to take them except the local recycling point where I will get nowt for them and someone else will no doubt profit from my laziness.
So, what have you done with yours?

K

 

[St3v3]

Metal recycling places take them. Where are you?

 

[wildebus]

I think Screwfix depots often pass over cash for old batteries ( no need to buy anything).

 

[SimonM]

I’ll be taking mine in to the local scrap metal recycling dealer. I emptied out a garage of mine and ended up having to scrap a load of old rusty metal. They took it all and paid me enough to pay for my fuel, £6. I was just pleased to move it on.

I’ll be phoning tomorrow and asking how much they’ll offer for 100kg of batteries. I’ve got 2 local to me to try.

 

[mr brown]

any scrap metal yard will pay for them , just take them in and some photo id and they'll give you a cheque or transfer

 

[jeffmossy]

I leave any scrap metal or batteries at the end of our driveway and the traveling folk take it when passing , usually within 2 days

 

[Deleted member 2784]

I leave any scrap metal or batteries at the end of our driveway and the traveling folk take it when passing , usually within 2 days

Hmmm.. 'they' often drain the acid into the ground, smash the case to get at the two metals so it can be separated so as to make for money from it. Any waste will be dumped somewhere it shouldn't. Far better to take them into a scrappy and come out with a few quid for yourself!

Personally I never feed vermin....

 

[jeffmossy]

Hmmm.. 'they' often drain the acid into the ground, smash the case to get at the two metals so it can be separated so as to make for money from it. Any waste will be dumped somewhere it shouldn't. Far better to take them into a scrappy and come out with a few quid for yourself!

Personally I never feed vermin....

And what do you think these back street metal dealers do with them ? I was delivering to one only last week and they had all the batteries in a corner and smashing them up with a big machine

 

[Asterix]

And what do you think these back street metal dealers do with them ? I was delivering to one only last week and they had all the batteries in a corner and smashing them up with a big machine

Presumably by "back street" you mean unlicensed,you should only use a licensed scrappy and they will have the correct facilities for either disposal or moving on to a specialist dismantler.

 

[Deleted member 2784]

And what do you think these back street metal dealers do with them ? I was delivering to one only last week and they had all the batteries in a corner and smashing them up with a big machine

At least [I hope] this rogue company didn't throw the battery cases out onto open land... Although I'm no great fan of 'Elf n Safety' surely that does need to be reported.

 

[Vanterrier]

Thanks for the advice Chaps. I will need to look up local scrap metal dealers then. I am in Northumberland Steve, out in the sticks so it looks like I need a trip to the smoke when I get back from our next jaunt which starts next week.
It would be interesting to know how much you get for your 100 kg Simon.

K

 

[Asterix]

Thanks for the advice Chaps. I will need to look up local scrap metal dealers then. I am in Northumberland Steve, out in the sticks so it looks like I need a trip to the smoke when I get back from our next jaunt which starts next week.
It would be interesting to know how much you get for your 100 kg Simon.

K

A few years ago they were paying a tenner per battery depending on weight,but prices fluctuate a lot in the scrap market but that would be a ball park starting point.

 

[trevskoda]

£3 to £5 here depending on size and weight,i save em up to make it worth the half mile trip.

 

[jeffmossy]

Presumably by "back street" you mean unlicensed,you should only use a licensed scrappy and they will have the correct facilities for either disposal or moving on to a specialist dismantler.

This was supposed to be a licenced scrap yard but these things go on because the inspectors send them details when they are going to inspect the premises , so I suppose the system is to blame

 

[Asterix]

This was supposed to be a licenced scrap yard but these things go on because the inspectors send them details when they are going to inspect the premises , so I suppose the system is to blame

The company I work for owns a couple of scrap yards in Dorset which I go into every few weeks,I'll make sure to have a nosey next time and see how they deal with them.

 

[korky]

Took 2 Banner AGM 95AH batteries to the scrappy in Derby 3 yrs ago. Got £26 for the pair. Well worth it.

 

[RV2MAX]

When I weighed in my old trojan batteries got about £60 for them , so about 10% of the replacement cost

 

[mr brown]

always a pleasure to turn rubbish into dosh !

 

[Wooie1958]

Weigh them in.

I don`t know where you are but here in the Preston area we have Recycling Lives https://www.recyclinglives.com/locations/leyland

You set up an account using your driving licence which they take a scan / copy of for ID. The account last as long as your driving licence is valid.

Then when you go in you tell them your postcode and your driving licence mugshot comes up on their computer screen.

There are 2 payment methods, cheque or bank transfer. They are not allowed to pay cash.

I chose bank transfer ( FPI, Faster Payment In ) to save me messing about having to go to the bank to pay a cheque in.

The money is cleared funds in your bank within 2 hours, couldn`t be easier.

The money is better in your pocket than Mr Gypo`s who drives around looking for scrap.

 

[SimonM]

I’ve just called my local metal recyclers and both of them weigh in batteries

One offers 40p per kg, the other wins at 44p per kg.

So a 25kg battery (I’d better fill it to the brim with water ?) will payback £11.00, now that’s better than taking it to the local tip which is a further half miles drive.