Not all waste is created equal. And some electronic waste, or E-waste, can be recycled over and over again. If it gets recycled...

While many components of e-waste materials can be recycled or recovered, some have a limited lifespan of reusability. But other components can be recycled almost indefinitely. 

When the Battery In That Electric Car Needs to be Replaced

With the increasing number of hybrid and all-electric cars on the road in the United States today, a fair question to ask is, "How long does the battery last?"

Of course, as you might imagine, the accurate response is, "It depends."

As consumers, we go through batteries like crazy and - unfortunately - far too many of us are still guilty of tossing the dead batteries in the household trash. While we'll get to that point in a bit, suffice it to say that most of us might be a bit flummoxed if faced with disposing of a dead or dying electric car battery. 

Tesla, for example, currently uses their 2170 lithium ion cell format battery in most of their newer models. And how long are these advanced technological wonders good for?

According to one electric car tech blog,

"Tesla claims that the battery pack should outlast the car itself, and they estimate that the life of most cars tends to be around 200,000 miles... With these numbers in mind, Tesla’s warranty includes a clause for retaining 70% battery capacity over the warranty period (typically between 100,000-150,000 miles)."

While this may seem like a long ways off from now, Tesla vehicles and other all-electric and hybrid vehicles have been on the road here since the late 1990s. It was 1997 when we saw the first Prius take to the streets. And in 2008, Tesla launched its all-electric Roadster.

So, what began as a trickle of used or damaged batteries being disposed of, promises to be a flood as the number of these vehicles continue to grow almost exponentially.

In fact, according to information from Policy Advice, in 2018, there were a million electric cars, or EVs, in the US. With annual sale of EVs projected to reach 1.4-million mark by 2025, there will be more than 18 million electric cars in just the US alone.

And that means lots of old batteries.

Where Do Electric Car Batteries Go When They Die?

Redwood Materials in Northern Nevada was founded in 2017 by Tesla co-founder, JB Straubel.  Today, Straubel is the CEO of Redwood Materials, which is a battery recycling plant.

According to a story at the Reno Gazette-Journal,

"[W]ith used battery packs from older electric vehicles expected to turn from a steady stream to a tsunami in the coming years — not to mention the continued role that batteries play in widely used consumer electronics — there’s a greater sense of urgency within the company to take bigger and bolder action."

As a result, the fledging Redwood Materials’ plans to grow its workforce from a little over its current number of 100 employees to more than 600 in just the next few years.

Redwood Materials breaks down older batteries and battery scrap in order to reacquire those base components so they can be reused again and again. 

According to Straubel, Tesla’s former chief technology officer,

“The critical materials that go into these batteries don’t degrade in their usage. They can be used hundreds and thousands of times and the economic benefit of that becomes really significant, not to mention the environmental benefit.”

And it's far more than the small, but growing number of EV batteries. 

The source of used battery e-waste includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, electric shavers, AirPods, power tools, and even electric toothbrushes. And these number in the millions just in the US alone. When it comes to global statistics, the burden of battery disposal as an e-waste material, the numbers reach into the billions of pieces.

Small and Large, Recycling Batteries is a Good E-Waste Practice

All types of batteries can be recycled, but far too many are not.

For example, every year, an estimated 1.8 million used car batteries are disposed of instead of responsibly recycled. And over 90 percent of these batteries are recyclable materials. When an automotive lead-acid battery is not properly recycled, the lead, acid and mercury contained in them can find their way into lakes, streams and groundwater near landfills.

All rechargeable batteries can be recycled, as well. Lithium single-use batteries should never be disposed of in the trash and should be recycled. A lithium battery may spark and cause fires if damaged or the terminal ends touch.

Alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries can be legally disposed of in household trash, however, the EPA recommends sending used alkaline and zinc carbon batteries to battery recyclers or check with your local or state solid waste authority.

The EPA also makes it clear: Do not put rechargeable batteries in the trash or municipal recycling bins.

Recycling Batteries and E-Waste with Junk Removal from Junk King

We can provide you with a truly simple and efficient option for your E-Waste recycling needs.

Junk King provides professional junk hauling services to remove any and all of your junk including anything made with glass, metal, paper, and plastic  - and we'll even remove your excess trash and garbage, as well as your E-Waste items.

We also have the equipment and teams to remove a large refrigerators and other appliances down stairways, up your basement steps, or out through your garage. 

Whatever your junk consists of, Junk King can help you get it out of the way. We provide an eco-friendly junk removal service to help you get rid of any unwanted junk, large trash items, or any old appliances.

Our professional and insured junk removal team will show up at your home or office, and we'll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive. Once there, we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck.

You point and we haul your unwanted items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees. It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Make an appointment with us by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).