Recycling Batteries
Why Recycle Batteries?
If not handled properly, used lead-acid batteries
can leak or spill and contaminate soil and groundwater.
Both lead and acid may be harmful to humans and the
environment. It is unnecessary to throw away lead-acid
batteries because they provide a valuable raw material.
Battery manufacturer's value used lead-acid batteries
as an important source of lead for new batteries. Also
it is illegal to dispose of lead-acid batteries in
landfills in Alaska.
How are Batteries Recycled?
Used lead-acid batteries collected in Alaska are
shipped out of state for 
recycling. They are sent
to secondary smelters in the lower 48 or overseas
to Asian markets. There the acid is neutralized, the
lead reclaimed for use in manufacturing new batteries,
and the plastic casing either melted down for reuse
or put in a landfill. There have been some reports
of environmental problems caused by stockpiling and
inadequate handling of used batteries overseas. Make
sure that your battery handler is shipping their used
batteries to a responsible recycler to avoid any future
public health or environmental problems.
What You Can Do
There are many sources for recycling lead-acid batteries
in Alaska. Below is a list of stores or organizations
that collect lead-acid batteries to then sell to manufacturers,
usually in the lower 48. Some of these sources
may be close to your community, but for some communities
it may take greater effort and planning to safely
recycle used batteries; however, it is possible.
Go over the list below and contact the various battery collectors within Alaska, tell them your location and see if they are willing to either pay for shipping or pick up a shipment of batteries from the airport or harbor. If they are willing to pick up a shipment then contact the airline(s) or barge(s) that travel to your community and see if they have room on one of their flights or barges for your shipment of batteries. Then arrange for the battery collector you contacted to pick up the battery shipment at the airport or harbor. Once you have arranged a battery collector be sure to clarify which batteries they will accept.
Once you have a battery collector arranged find a
suitable container or location for battery collection
that will keep them dry until you ship them. Make
sure to advertise this new service in your community
so people will know where to drop their lead-acid
batteries off. Lastly if people in your community
are unaware of the harmful affects of disposing lead-acid
batteries in the community landfill be sure to educate
them on why recycling is important and encourage them
not to throw away their lead-acid batteries.
How to Store Batteries?
If safely recycling batteries is not an option in
your community or you need a place to store batteries
until the next shipment goes out of your community
indoor storage is preferable to outdoor storage to
avoid contact with water and to avoid extreme temperatures
that can cause cracking. Rain, snow, and draining
water should not enter storage area. Here are some
other helpful tips:
- Store used batteries on a non-reactive, impermeable and curbed surface. A non-reactive and impermeable surface will help insure that lead-contaminated sulfuric acid will not corrode the floor and leak through into the soil and ground water. Curbing (high edges) will prevent leaks or spills from running off the edge.
Coat asphalt or concrete storage surfaces with
an acid-resistant epoxy, fiberglass, or plastic
coating.- A wooden frame lined with heavy polyethylene (20 to 40 mil thick may also be used to store batteries). Check it regularly for cracks or tears.
- Some communities use large polyethylene fish totes without drains to store used lead-acid batteries.
- To avoid releases of lead contaminated acid, make sure that there are no floor drains which lead outdoors or which connect to sewer systems, storm drains, or septic tanks.
- Avoid stockpiling spend lead-acid batteries.
- Store batteries upright to protect against acid leaks through vent holes.
- Inspect batteries weekly for cracks or leaks. Keep a log of your inspections. If batteries have been exposed to freezing temperatures inspect them more often.
- Place cracked or leaking batteries in an acid-resistant, leak-proof container such as a sturdy plastic tote.
- Small acid spills should be contained and can be neutralized using lime or bicarbonate soda.
Battery Collectors in Alaska:
Before you begin collecting any lead-acid batteries
in your community take the time to contact these resources
and make sure you have someone who can recycle your
batteries once you have them collected. Many
of these organizations already have services set up
in rural communities so check and see if there is
already a program set up in your community or a community
nearby that you can collaborate with. Once you
have contacted these organizations be sure to ask
if they can help you with transportation because many
of them are willing to meet your shipment at the airport
or harbor or even provide a mode of transportation.
- ABS Alaskan
2130 Van Horn Road
Fairbanks AK 99701
Phone: (907)452-2002
- Battery Specialists of Alaska
If you can find a way to get a shipment of lead-acid batteries onto a plane or barge call Battery Specialists and let them know how large your shipment is and when the flight or barge is coming in and they are willing to pick up the shipment.
1939 E. 5th Avenue
Anchorage AK 99501
Phone: (907)276-5251
Fax: (907)279-9834
Email: battspec@gci.net
- Brooks Range Supply
Brooks Range Supply, located in Prudhoe Bay, is an
automotive parts retailer that operates a lead-acid
battery recycling program. The spent batteries are
delivered to Brooks Range Supply by the various customers. After
the batteries are delivered, Brooks Range Supply palletizes,
bands, and packages them for surface transport to
Anchorage. This transport is paid by Brooks Range
Supply. From Anchorage, the batteries are barged by
Exide (the manufacturer of the batteries) to Washington
State for distribution to its smelters. All shipping
and recycling costs are covered by Exide.
Contact Randy Richardson or Pete Warner (907)659-2550
in Prudhoe Bay or
Larry Pennino (907)349-3411 in Anchorage.
Pouch 340008, #1 Old Spine Road
Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734
Phone: (907)659-2550
Fax: (907)659-2650
Email: brooks@astacalaska.com
Website: www.colvilleinc.com/brooks_range_supply.htm
- E & L Auto
10005 Crazy Horse Drive
Juneau AK
Phone: (907)789-2728
- Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
54th and Juneau
Anchorage AK
Phone: (907)428-1742
- Interstate Battery
7740 Schoon
Anchorage AK 99518
Phone: (907)349-1577
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Jackovich Industrial and Construction Supply Inc.
1607 Wells St.
Fairbanks AK 99701
Phone: (907)456-4900
Toll Free 800-770-4414
Fax: (907)452-4846
1716 Post Road
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone 907-277-1406
Toll Free 800-478-1406
Fax 907-258-1700
- NAPA Auto Parts:
Brooks Range Supply, located in Prudhoe Bay, is an automotive parts retailer that operates a lead-acid battery recycling program. It buys a majority of its goods--including lead acid batteries--from the National Auto Parts Association [NAPA]. Therefore, if there is a NAPA store in your community they could be collecting used lead-acid batteries and selling them to companies like Brooks Range Supply so contact them and see if they have a recycling program. If the closest one is too far to drive see if you can ship batteries to them or if they have a program that will cover the cost of shipping. Below is a list of a few NAPA Auto Parts stores.
Kachemak Auto Parts Inc
3545 Main St.
Homer AK 99603
Phone: (907)235-8663
Glacier Auto Parts
9110 Mendenhall Mall Rd.
Juneau AK 99801
Phone: (907)789-4133
Anchor Auto and Marine Parts
102 Nicholoff Way
Cordova AK 99574
Phone: (907)424-7278
Korthuis Auto Parts
811 Third Ave.
Bethel AK 99559
Phone: (907)543-2673
Kotzebue Development Corp
373 A Second Ave
Kotzebue AK 99752
Phone: (907)442-2400
Service Auto Parts
123 Easy St
Craig AK 99921
Phone: (907)826-3950
Apan Auto and Truck Parts
722 Loftus Rd
Fairbanks AK 99709
Phone: (907)458-6290
Bigfoot Auto Service
Mile 1 ½ Haines Hwy
Haines AK 99827
Phone: (907)766-2459
Genuine Parts Company
44096 Sterling Hwy
Soldotna AK 99669
Phone: (907)262-6233
- Prudhoe Bay Commercial Center
Prudhoe Bay
Phone: (907)659-2400
- Smurfit-Stone Recycling Center
Smurfit-Stone has a plant in Anchorage where they purchase, receive, and process various recyclable materials for shipment to paper mills and other end users of recyclable material.
6161 Rosewood
Anchorage AK 99518
Phone: (907)562-2267
- Southeast Conference
Southeast Conference has a Household Waste Collection Program where harmful wastes are collected from communities and transported for proper disposal, rather than being left to contaminate community landfills. Examples of wastes include: paint, solvents, cleaning fluids, batteries, used oil.
P.O.Box 21989
Juneau, Alaska 99802-1989.
Phone: (907) 463-3445
Fax: (907) 463-5670
info@seconference.org
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
YRITWC has a backhaul program, contact them for further details.
YRITWC's Anchorage Office
725 Christensen Drive, Suite 3
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 258-3337
Fax: 907 258-3339
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