"Green" Batteries

[oil pan 4]

I found well over 100 pounds of old batteries last year, the scrap yard gave me 15 cents a pound for them.

I usually keep one on had to avoid the core charge if I randomly need a lead acid battery.

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I found well over 100 pounds of old batteries last year, the scrap yard gave me 15 cents a pound for them.

At 62 pounds per golf cart battery, over 100 pounds of batteries is not many.

[oil pan 4]

Those were 5 car batteries I picked up that had been illegally dumped.
Not golf cart batteries.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Those were 5 car batteries I picked up that had been illegally dumped.
Not golf cart batteries.

Ugh. People are idiots.

They can actually get good money for those, and they STILL have to give a big FU to everyone by dumping them.

[Ryland]

Reminds me of the time I found a half barrel beer keg that had been dumped, tossed it in the back of my car and took it to the store where they gave me $35 for it.
Lithium batteries are worth even more because most of their weight is Copper and Aluminum, last time I took copper scrap in it was worth around $1 per pound.

[sheepdog 44]

Anyone know what i could do with a tire? I know of about a dozen scattered in different state parks.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

Anyone know what i could do with a tire? I know of about a dozen scattered in different state parks.

Aren't the manufacturers and importers responsible to ensure them a correct final destination?

[jeff88]

Originally Posted by Ryland

I don't understand your comment.

Just because it is recyclable and/or recycled, does not mean it is non-toxic. Believe me, I would rather them be recycled, but what I am wondering is if there is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic battery that can also be recycled. You mention these facilities that do everything in their power to not pollute the chemicals, because they know how toxic it would be if it was polluted into the ground. I'm not saying that is a bad thing and I am glad they do it, but if we had a non-toxic battery, that would not be as required.

Originally Posted by Ryland

Find me any other industry that is that is less "environmentally horrific", I'd rather live next to a battery factory then pretty much any other industry.

I can think of a few, but what is the accepted meaning of "industry"? An organic, sustainable farm would be a nice place to live next to. Would you put a farm under the industry tab? What about an FSC forest farm and/or mill?

Originally Posted by Ryland

Batteries made out of Potatoes on the other hand are pretty nasty, you are taking a high energy food and sticking a big chunk of copper and chunk of zinc in it, both of those metals are devastating to the environment to mine and refine and often end up in the trash instead of being recycled, the power output from the potato is also extremely low.

I get what you're saying about the potato battery, but wouldn't any battery of any kind still require some sort of (heavy) metals, which would at least put it on par with any other battery (at least in terms of toxicity)? Also, copper is highly recycled, so you would only have to worry about the zinc (I know copper is still mined, but you could presumably used recycled copper).

I wouldn't want to put a potato under my hood, but I was just wondering what sort of non-toxic batteries are available (either on the market, or just in research labs)?

[jeff88]

Originally Posted by 02ws6

Alot of car companies are now using nickel-metal hydrate. Not bad stuff in comparison to previously used product.

Are nickel-metal hydrate batteries less toxic than lead-acid? I would think with the heavy metals, they would still be pretty bad (although, maybe more beneficial in other areas?).

[jeff88]

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

Anyone know what i could do with a tire? I know of about a dozen scattered in different state parks.

Maybe take them to a recycling center?

If you explain the situation to your local tire shop, they might take them without charging you for them.

Also, a used tire shop might take them (and maybe even give you a few bucks).