Lead acid batteries have been determined to be unsuitable for disposal as municipal solid waste because they contain toxic heavy metals and have corrosive properties. Golf cart batteries are not to be placed in waste baskets or dumpsters where they will end up as municipal trash.
So, what can you do? For starters, don't toss your golf cart's old battery into a bin with your household recyclables and leave it on the curb. The battery, also referred to as a lead-acid battery, contains about 21 pounds of lead, three pounds of plastic and one gallon of sulfuric acid. These items can be toxic if handled improperly.
If you are the do-it-yourself type, take your spent battery to a quality auto parts retailer that is committed to battery recycling.
Nearly 90 percent of all lead-acid batteries are recycled. Almost any retailer that sells lead-acid batteries collects used batteries for recycling, as required by most state laws. Reclaimers crush batteries into nickel-sized pieces and separate the plastic components. They send the plastic to a reprocessor for manufacture into new plastic products and deliver purified lead to battery manufacturers and other industries.
Many states have regulations in place requiring battery recycling. (Thirty-seven states in the U.S. require lead-acid battery recycling; making retailers collect used lead-acid batteries from customers who buy new batteries.)
As neither sulphuric acid nor lead are exactly good for the environment you have to be careful when you dispose of old lead-acid batteries. Leave it for recycling. You can also leave your old battery where you buy your new one. If that should not be the case, contact your local municipality to check where you can safely dispose of old batteries. In the old days, when we changed a battery, we threw out the old one and never gave it a second thought. Today, we know better. We know that:
? Individuals who become poisoned by lead can experience symptoms including irritability, stomach aches, poor appetite, diarrhea, colic, distractibility, and lethargy; ? Lead acid typically consists of 40% sulfuric acid, a corrosive that can burn skin; and ? The improper disposal of lead-acid batteries can contaminate soil and water. The toxic metal is not able to dissolve in water or biodegrade, dissipate, decay, or burn, making it an extremely harmful hazard.
On a positive note it seems as if most people take this seriously. About 93% of all battery lead is recycled, making it the most highly recycled consumer product. Help in making sure we go towards 100%!
Ken Mackenzie is a Marketing and Public Relations Consultant with an interest in golf. For additional information on golf cart batteries including how lead acid batteries work; how to use a hydrometer; changing batteries and troubleshooting golf cart batteries, please visit http://www.YourGolfCartBatteries.com
Golf Schools
Golf School Info is a comprehensive directory of golf schools, golf camps, and golf instruction. Complete listings of Florida Golf Schools, Arizona Golf Schools, Las Vegas Golf Schools and more.
Golf University
Golf University offers personalized golf schools in Arizona, Florida, Las Vegas, and Myrtle Beach. Bring a second student for 50% off!
Video Review, Launch monitor, club fitting, on course instruction.
Executive Golf School Programs
Advantage Golf Schools offers executive golf school programs with a focus on customer appreciation and incentives with luxury resort locations in Florida Arizona and Las Vegas
Golf Schools
See our latest review of top golf schools
Online Golf Shop by Golfonline.co.uk - Retailer of Top Quality Golf Equipment Online
Golfonline.co.uk - A reliable online golf equipment retailer delivering top golf products at the lowest prices online. Primarily focusing on customer service and increasing product range.
Golf Schools Require Golf Fitness
Are you planning on attending a golf school on your next golf vacation? Don't expect to kick your feet up, relax with a cold beer and nap every couple of hours. Furthermore, don't expect to enjoy your learning experience unless you prepare yourself physically.
Vintage Golf Equipment: Tips On Collecting Vintage Golf Equipment
The game of golf is steeped in history Golfers are appreciative of the game?s history, and enjoy learning about the great players of the past, and the memorable tournaments
Start Your Golf Career - Consider Arizona Golf Schools
When we talk of Arizona, the thing that comes to mind is the gorgeous Grand Canyon But there are many more things to see and do