This article informs the reader about the process of recycling lead, which is a sought-after metal.
The recycling industry is a success story we can all be proud of. It all began in the late 1970s, when scientists began to warn governments of the serious depletion of natural resources and in typical fashion, we were slow to pick up the ball. Once things did happen, Australia was right up there with the best. They always had good support that is necessary for a growing recycling sector and today, scrap metal dealers manage to recycle up to 90% of everything they collect.
Recycling Lead
Even though the use of lead is limited when compared to 50 years ago, there are still some applications like car batteries, which contain a lot of lead that reacts with acid to provide power. Imagine the number of car batteries in the world right now! It is important to have an efficient method of collecting and recycling old vehicle batteries, which provides a large portion of the lead that industry uses. When you look at the current scrap lead prices in Sydney, for example, you realise there is a good incentive to recycle lead. Let’s say, if your old roof flashing needs replacing, you can get a good price for lead flashing.
What Happens to My Old Car Battery?
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When you turn the key and nothing happens, this is usually a sign that your battery has finally given up the ghost. One or more of the plates no longer hold charge and let’s face it, car batteries are not designed to be used for more than 3 years, which is an acceptable lifespan for a car battery that is used daily. When you call out the mobile battery supplier, they come and fit the new battery and they automatically take the old battery, which is then sent to a recycling plant. In the event you sold an old car to a scrap metal dealer, the battery would end up at the same recycling plant, where it is efficiently recycled. The extracted lead would probably be used to make new car batteries, which is far better than mining ore to supply the heavy demand for raw lead.
Major Recycling Plants
The scrap metal dealer sends all their lead to a main lead recycling plant, where it is melted down into sheets or ingots, ready for industrial use. It is relatively easy to do this, due to the low melting point of lead and there would be a section that strips car batteries and removes the lead plates, while the heavy-duty plastic is also recycled. The scrap metal dealers are very much the front line of the recycling industry, as they supply the plants with the scrap metal and all scrap metal dealers in Sydney must be state-approved.
Online Solutions
If you have scrap lead and you are looking for collection and a good price, an online search will take you to your local scrap metal dealer’s website where you can find out the per-kg price for lead. The dealer will arrive at the agreed time, weigh your scrap and pay you cash on the spot, which is ideal.