As a company of boaters serving boaters, West Marine is proud to support sustainable practices that help protect and preserve the natural environment we love. One example of this is how West Marine has partnered with East Penn, an industry leading battery manufacturer, in a well-established recycling program that encourages and enables the safe and efficient reuse of the materials found in lead-acid batteries.
Lead-Acid Batteries are Eminently Recyclable
No other type of battery is as recyclable as those with a lead-acid based design. In fact, lead-acid batteries have an industry recycling rate of over 99%, which is higher than newspapers and aluminum cans!
What makes lead-acid batteries so recyclable?
Spent batteries in recycling facility.Lead-acid batteries are comprised of three key components: lead, plastic and acid. These materials are completely recyclable and can be collected and processed to be reused in the manufacture new batteries, avoiding disposal and landfill.
- Lead can be repeatedly reused in the production of new batteries without loss of performance.
- Plastic polypropylene battery cases can be melted down to be used in the production of new cases without loss of strength or durability.
- Acid from used batteries can also be recycled, avoiding disposal of a hazardous waste.
Recycling Old Lead-Acid Batteries
is Easy
When your lead-acid batteries wear out and need to be replaced, all you need to do is deliver them to your local West Marine store where they will be safely handled and shipped to a recycling facility. You will also receive a credit for the core charge applied at checkout from your prior battery purchase at West Marine. At the recycling facility, the lead, plastic and acid components are salvaged and processed. Next, these recovered raw materials are shipped to a manufacturing facility where they are reconstituted into new, high-quality batteries, restarting the batteries' life cycle.
The Infinite Recycling Loop
What are the Results?
As a testament to the efficiency and success of this sustainable process, a new lead battery is typically comprised of more than 80% recycled material. The high percentage of recycled content along with a recycling rate of over 99% makes this a sustainable solution that should not be ignored. As nature lovers, it’s simply natural to want to protect our natural resources. Choosing a sustainable product like West Marine lead-acid batteries that is supported by our highly successful recycling program makes perfect sense for boaters — and for the great outdoors that we so dearly love.