Department of Transportation (DOT), which governs safe
handling and transportation, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), which oversees battery recycling
and disposal. End users must either use a licensed recycler
or a licensed hazardous waste transporter and disposal
facility that adheres to the applicable federal, state, and local
regulations, Bouquard says.
Motor carriers are responsible for properly preparing and
securing their loads of scrap batteries for recycling, and
they must comply with the U.S. DOT’s regulations governing transportation and handling in transit. But forklift fleet
operators also have responsibilities to ensure safe shipment
of used batteries. Sources consulted for this article offer the
following recommendations:
For more information …
Here’s a roundup of some of the battery-related
industry groups as well as some of the companies
that provide lift truck batteries and related products.
Industry Associations
▪ Association of Battery Recyclers
( www.americasbatteryrecyclers.com)
▪ Battery Council International
( www.batterycouncil.org)
▪ Use good quality, sturdy pallets. Don’t cut corners or
costs just because the batteries are being scrapped; for safety’s sake, use the same quality materials for handling scrap
batteries as for new ones, says Adams.
▪ Properly block and brace the batteries on the pallet and
in the truck. This includes nailing wooden cleats around the
battery to prevent sliding.
▪ Make sure that the terminals cannot come in contact
with metal. Metal banding that comes in contact with battery terminals could create sparks, causing a fire that could
melt the plastic battery casing and expose acid, Adams
notes. Insulate the banding with wood or cardboard. Some
companies use plastic rather than metal bands.
▪ Protect terminals with non-conductive caps, tape, or
other insulating material to prevent shorting.
▪ Tightly seal caps and be sure no fluid can escape. The
aim is to prevent any potential contact with the battery electrolyte, which could result in a chemical burn, Bouquard
explains.
▪ Wear proper safety equipment at all times and be sure to
follow warnings on the product labels.
▪ Comply with all U.S. DOT regulations governing not
just transportation but also handling, packing, documenting, and transferring batteries at the warehouse or other
storage location.
For more detailed guidance about preparing batteries for
recycling, contact an EPA-approved battery recycler. One
good source of information is “Packaging and Securing
Used Motive Batteries/Cells” at www.dekabatteries.com/
assets/base/1545.pdf.
Battery manufacturers
▪ Battery Builders ( www.batterybuilders.com)
▪ BBI Battery ( www.bbibattery.com)
▪ Crown Battery ( www.crownbattery.com)
▪ Douglas Battery ( www.douglasbattery.com)
▪ East Penn Manufacturing
( www.dekabatteries.com)
▪ EnerSys Motive Power Division
( www.enersysmp.com)
▪ GNB Industrial Power ( www.exide.com)
▪ Hawker Powersource
( www.hawkerpowersource.com)
▪ Storage Battery Systems LLC
( www.sbsbattery.com)
SAFETY ABOVE ALL
Lift truck battery disposal and recycling is a complicated
activity, and we’ve only been able to scratch the surface in
this article. Experts agree that the two most important areas
to focus on are safety and regulatory compliance. They also
recommend familiarizing yourself with the many information resources available—industry associations, of course,
but also battery manufacturers and distributors, lift truck
distributors, licensed battery recyclers and transporters,
Battery handling, maintenance,
and charging systems
▪ Access Control Group ( www.assetor.net)
▪ AeroVironment ( www.avinc.com)
▪ Ametek ( www.ametek.com)
▪ Applied Energy Solutions
( www.appliedenergysol.com)
▪ Battery Watering Technologies
( www.batterywatering.com)
▪ BHS Battery Handling Systems ( www.bhs1.com)
▪ Ecotality ( www.ecotality.com)
▪ Flow-Rite ( www.flow-rite.com)
▪ IBP ( www.ibpmidwest.com)
▪ MTC Materials Transportation Co.
( www.mtcworldwide.com)
▪ Motive Energy ( www.motive-energy.com)
▪ Multi-Shifter ( www.multi-shifter.com)
▪ Philadelphia Scientific ( www.phlsci.com)
▪ Power Designers ( www.powerdesigners.com)
▪ Quick Cable Corp. ( www.quickcable.com)
▪ Sackett Systems ( www.sackett-systems.com)
and so forth.
No matter how many hands get involved or which companies you turn to for advice and information, the ultimate goal
is the same: handling and disposition of industrial batteries in
a way that is safe for people, facilities, and the environment. ;
