News | November 15, 2024

America Recycles Day: Celebrating Lead Batteries as a Successful Circular Economy Example

Teal background with circular economy example of rotating circle and a lead battery for America Recycles Day.

Recycling Lead Batteries Supports a Sustainable, Closed-Loop System

Every November 15, America Recycles Day highlights the importance of recycling and the critical role it plays in preserving our environment, conserving natural resources, and building a sustainable future. For the Association of Battery Recyclers (ABR) and its member companies, this day shines a spotlight on the impact of lead battery recycling — an essential element of a powerful circular economy example and a model for sustainability. Lead battery recycling not only protects the environment but also creates thousands of green jobs, ensures essential resources for domestic battery manufacturing, and supports the critical power needs of our everyday lives.

Lead Batteries: A True Circular Economy Example

The lead battery industry has achieved an extraordinary level of recycling success, with an impressive 99% recycling rate in the U.S., the highest for any consumer product. This accomplishment reflects a dedication to responsible environmental stewardship, advanced recycling practices, and continuous innovation. Designed and engineered to be broken down and recycled, nearly every component of a lead battery can be recovered and reused, creating a fully sustainable cycle.

Lead batteries are critical power sources across numerous sectors, from automotive and renewable energy storage to backup power for essential facilities such as hospitals and data centers. As the second-largest market in the global rechargeable battery industry, lead batteries continue to play a key role in meeting growing energy demands. The sustainable recycling process for lead batteries ensures a reliable supply of materials that can be continuously returned to the battery manufacturing cycle. In fact, through this process, U.S. lead battery recyclers meet approximately 59% of the country’s demand for lead, exemplifying a closed-loop, sustainable approach. Each year, ABR member companies recycle more than 160 million used batteries, ensuring that lead, plastic, and even battery acid are reprocessed and used again in new batteries or other applications.

A Nationwide Effort to Close the Loop

The success of lead battery recycling in the United States is driven by a nationwide commitment among manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, and government agencies to create accessible recycling channels for consumers and businesses alike. With over 300,000 drop-off locations nationwide, recycling is convenient and readily available. This extensive network enables Americans to recycle their spent batteries responsibly, helping prevent hazardous waste and keeping valuable materials in circulation.

Three engineers working on innovation for lead battery recycling and the circular lifecycle of lead batteries.

ABR members are continually exploring innovative ways to enhance the sustainability of lead batteries and the recycling process. Through strategic partnerships with the U.S. government, universities, and national laboratories, they collaborate on cutting-edge research to drive technological advancements. These innovations not only result in more powerful, longer-lasting energy storage solutions but also bring the industry closer to achieving a zero-waste product. By working with key stakeholders, the industry is advancing in areas such as resource efficiency and recycling technology. These efforts strengthen lead batteries’ role as a leading example of the circular economy, demonstrating how sustainable design and recycling can effectively work together to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.

Watch the Journey: Lead Battery Recycling in Action

This America Recycles Day, we invite you to explore our exclusive Circular Economy video — a comprehensive look at how the lead battery industry closes the loop, illustrating a remarkable circular economy example in action. This engaging video follows the journey from design and innovation to recycling, showing how ABR members use innovative processes to reclaim and repurpose materials, turning old batteries into essential resources for new products. Witness how the lead battery industry leads the way in sustainability and learn how your everyday choices contribute to a healthier planet.

A Shared Mission for a Greener Future

The lead battery industry’s commitment to recycling is part of a larger mission to protect resources and meet the rising demand for energy in an environmentally responsible way. As America Recycles Day reminds us, recycling is not just an action — it’s a pledge to protect our planet for future generations. By recycling lead batteries, we help reduce waste, lower emissions, and conserve resources, supporting a cleaner, greener future.

ABR members are are proud to be part of this mission. Together with consumers, retailers, manufacturers, and policymakers, we are driving a successful circular economy example that keeps critical materials in circulation, reduces environmental impact, and powers progress across the U.S.

This America Recycles Day, join us in celebrating the transformative power of recycling. Let’s keep moving forward, one battery at a time, toward a more sustainable world.