So what do they do with old batteries that they need a $22 core charge?

[dubber09]

You must be talking about auto parts stores? I buy my batteries at costco and have for many years. They just charge $15 core charge on any battery they sell. Last one bought in 2024 was still just $15 core charge. They don't need a receipt. They just look it up in their system.

Core charge is refundable when you return old battery (same battery you purchase from them when the batt is dead).
It's basically same as beer bottles deposit you pay when you buy beer and get the deposit back when you return empties.

 

[Donald]

advanced auto charged me $22 for a group 24 battery. Gonna bring them the old one on my way to work one day, so it doesn't really matter but it seems a bit excessive.

Normally it's a state mandated fee. Mainly so batteries do not end up in landfills. Lead needs to be properly recycled. Never tossed.

 

[The motor guy]

I usually carry the battery with me and swap it at the counter. Bummer that it's still two transactions it seems, sell me a battery and charge the core, then refund the core, but eh.

I usually do too, but the dimensions were a little bit different for the replacement battery and I just wanted a comparison. Usually I swap them in the parking lot and do the swap before leaving

 

[Sumboodie]

In Europe and the US, nearly 100% of lead-acid batteries are recycled and have been for decades. Most of the recycled materials goes back...to batteries in a closed loop system.

The lead, liquid, and plastic all are recyclable. Plastic was the most complicated but I don't know if that still is the case.

The recyclers I knew in Europe used Italian "separators". The recyclers had visits from government officials several times per day for environmental purposes and for health & safety purposes. There were government electronic monitors installed at and around the facilities.

Car batteries were recycled for environmental protection, government regulations, marketing, purchasing, etc. The lead is valuable enough to strongly incentivize the industry.

https://batterycouncil.org/battery-facts-and-applications/about-battery-recycling/

I'd be surprised if even 50% are.

I've thrown out several. They won't even take them anymore, and not making an hour trip to the dump.

 

[f355spider]

I'd be surprised if even 50% are.

I've thrown out several. They won't even take them anymore, and not making an hour trip to the dump.

You can probably drop them off at the Walmart in Anchorage, if you are there on other business. I read Alaska is the hardest for recycling due to the remoteness of some communities. I image car batteries are rarely recycled in Barrow...they would probably get barged out once a year if at all. Too expensive to put on the single Alaska air flight each day.

The core charge is to ensure compliance with recycling. Most people want their $12 or $21 or whatever their state or municipality requires. Most dumps will recycle them, but will not offer you anything for them. My municipal dump will accept batteries, but won't give you anything, whereas a recycling center or battery retailer will pay you something...from $5 to $10. WA State requires by law, that all car battery retailers except used batteries for recycling.

Per AAA:
"Did you know that automotive batteries are the number one recycled consumer product in North America? According to Battery Council International, lead batteries are the most recycled consumer product, with a 99% recycling rate. More than 160 million lead batteries are recycled each year in the United States."

 

[duck__dodgers]

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PLEADUSDM then add that reclaiming (labor, electricity) and transport costs that old lead probably has gotten much higher over the years

 

[PandaBear]

The metal recycling place near me pays cash for used batteries. Not that much, though.

That's the intention. If the core charge is less than the metal's value nobody would bring it back for the core and they have to go all over the place to move things around, instead of using the same logistic to bring batteries back (and that add cost).

 

[ripcord]

That's the intention. If the core charge is less than the metal's value nobody would bring it back for the core and they have to go all over the place to move things around, instead of using the same logistic to bring batteries back (and that add cost).

Personally, it makes me hang onto several old batteries so I always have a core to turn in when buying a new one.

 

[PandaBear]

Personally, it makes me hang onto several old batteries so I always have a core to turn in when buying a new one.

Why? You can't return a core within 30 days from where you buy it?

 

[ripcord]

Sometimes I will buy something to flip that doesn't have a battery in it

 

[Sumboodie]

You can probably drop them off at the Walmart in Anchorage, if you are there on other business. I read Alaska is the hardest for recycling due to the remoteness of some communities. I image car batteries are rarely recycled in Barrow...they would probably get barged out once a year if at all. Too expensive to put on the single Alaska air flight each day.

The core charge is to ensure compliance with recycling. Most people want their $12 or $21 or whatever their state or municipality requires. Most dumps will recycle them, but will not offer you anything for them. My municipal dump will accept batteries, but won't give you anything, whereas a recycling center or battery retailer will pay you something...from $5 to $10. WA State requires by law, that all car battery retailers except used batteries for recycling.

Per AAA:
"Did you know that automotive batteries are the number one recycled consumer product in North America? According to Battery Council International, lead batteries are the most recycled consumer product, with a 99% recycling rate. More than 160 million lead batteries are recycled each year in the United States."

Anchorage is over a 2 hour trip. About 100 miles. And Walmart isn't a place I go to if possible.

The dump takes steel too, but again, it's "free" to throw out.
"Free" in that I pay for trash, but costs the same regardless how full the bin is each week.

 

[Sumboodie]

Personally, it makes me hang onto several old batteries so I always have a core to turn in when buying a new one.

I did for a while, but I realized it wasn't worth collecting more junk to save $20 every few years in the odd times where I'm buying batteries without them being replacements.

The last ones I kept ended blowing apart after freezing.

 

[f355spider]

Anchorage is over a 2 hour trip. About 100 miles. And Walmart isn't a place I go to if possible.

The dump takes steel too, but again, it's "free" to throw out.
"Free" in that I pay for trash, but costs the same regardless how full the bin is each week.

Round trip, sure as its about an hour each way, but you don't regularly go to Anchorage? I go to Palmer about three times a year when I am in Anchorage for business. Surprised no auto shop or someone in Palmer would take them off your hands for free, as lead batteries definitely have value. Heck the Walmart in Wasilla will probably take it off your hands for free. I need to go to Wasilla on my next trip, have some business there.

But I get it, sometimes it just isn't worth the hassles. I always take the old battery in at time of purchase to avoid another trip....or change it in the parking lot.

 

[Sumboodie]

Round trip, sure as its about an hour each way, but you don't regularly go to Anchorage? I go to Palmer about three times a year when I am in Anchorage for business. Surprised no auto shop or someone in Palmer would take them off your hands for free, as lead batteries definitely have value. Heck the Walmart in Wasilla will probably take it off your hands for free. I need to go to Wasilla on my next trip, have some business there.

But I get it, sometimes it just isn't worth the hassles. I always take the old battery in at time of purchase to avoid another trip....or change it in the parking lot.

No, I avoid it as much as possible. Palmer is about 25-30 mins from me, depending on traffic, im out near Vine.

Either way definitely not going out of my way when the trash bin takes 5 seconds.