Survey: Recycle old car batteries in U.S.

Oct. 21 -- About 83% of those surveyed said it is the responsibility of the service center replacing a car battery to recycle it, according to SLAB Watchdog, which had Harris Interactive conduct a survey about car batteries and electronic waste.

A survey of 2,050 American adults revealed that of those who purchased a new car battery in the last three years, 80% left it at the service center, 13% dropped it off at a municipal recycling center and 1% threw the old battery in the trash.

The respondents said recycling car batteries were a higher priority than other e-waste by a three-to-one margin, SLAB reported.

Over the last three years, 6% admitted to throwing an old television in the trash; 4% threw a computer in the trash; and 3% threw a cell phone in the trash.

About 90% of those survey said it makes more sense to recycle car batteries domestically.

"When 93% of the population states batteries purchased by federal, state and local governments should be recycled domestically, we believe government should listen," said Diane Cullo, director of SLAB Watchdog, in a statement.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@crain.com or 313-446-6780.

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