Battery recycling in Russia and the world. Where to put an old car battery: recycling and its meaning

The issues of collection, disposal and recycling of used batteries and accumulators are extremely relevant at the present time. Disposal of this waste is one of the most difficult problems in recycling. Almost all batteries contain toxic substances in the form of various metals and chemicals, which, when battery cases are destroyed, enter natural environment. In the production of batteries, lead, nickel, cadmium, zinc, mercury, silver oxide, cobalt, and lithium are used. Nickel-cadmium batteries, which are used in cell phones, are the most significant potential sources of cadmium; great danger present mercury and lithium batteries as suppliers of mercury and lithium to the natural environment; In addition, lithium can spontaneously react with oxygen in the air and ignite.

Battery recycling is the process of recovering and using the materials from which batteries are made. During this process, metals are removed from the batteries, which are then reincorporated into new products. The goal of this process is to conserve energy and raw materials. Recycling such products helps preserve the environment for healthy human life.

Today, there is no environmentally friendly and cost-effective technology that would allow recycling batteries that have expired to produce products of adequate quality.

For example, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods are used to extract cadmium. Most widespread Vacuum distillation was developed from pyrometallurgical methods based on the distillation of gaseous cadmium compounds. In addition to the extreme environmental hazard of this production, distillation is characterized by the production of low quality cadmium oxide and secondary waste, the use of which in other industries is problematic.

World experience in processing cadmium-containing waste has shown the promise of hydrometallurgical methods, mostly based on the use of solutions of sulfuric acid, ammonia, and salt compositions. The use of hydrometallurgical operations will allow us to decide how environmental problems for the disposal of cadmium-containing waste, and to meet the needs of mechanical engineering and metallurgy for high-quality cadmium oxide.

The disadvantages of the sulfuric acid method are: low degree of cadmium extraction due to its loss with iron-containing middlings, technological difficulties in purifying industrial solutions. The use of ammonia is limited by its volatility and the difficulty of regeneration.

The recycling and recycling process for batteries and accumulators usually involves several steps. For example, the lead recovery process for batteries consists of four steps.

First, batteries and accumulators are loaded into a special container large sizes, from where they fall along a conveyor belt into a concrete well with an electromagnet above it (which attracts excess scrap metal) and with a mesh bottom, where the electrolyte from the “leaked” batteries flows into a special container, after which the batteries are crushed into small pieces by a crusher.

Then the process of separation of materials occurs using water spray supplied at high pressure - several tens of atmospheres. The smallest parts and plastic are deposited in a separate tank for later concentration, and the larger parts fall to the bottom of the tank, from where a mechanical bucket pulls them into a tank of caustic soda, where this scrap metal is turned into lead paste. At the same stage, lead dust also gets there, which, with the help of water supplied under high pressure, is separated from the plastic, which is collected in separate containers.

The third stage is the lead smelting process. The resulting lead paste is transferred along a conveyor belt to a smelting bunker, where it is melted to a liquid state, and the released vapors are quickly cooled and discharged into separate containers (later it will go to the next stage of processing).

The fourth step in the refining process is the formation of two components - refined hard and soft lead and lead alloys that meet customer requirements. The alloys are immediately sent to factories for use, and the refined lead is heated and poured into ingots, removing scale, which are equivalent in quality to those freshly mined from lead ore.

In the summer of 2013, the English company International Innovative Technologies introduced a new technology for recycling used batteries. The method involves turning the solid elements contained in the inside of an alkaline battery into powder. Thus, the internal components of batteries become suitable for treatment using various chemical and biological processes, which results in the extraction of various metal ions, such as zinc, manganese and carbon ions.

One of the benefits of this technology is that it can easily replace traditional grinding systems with compact, high-performance units. Besides, new development features low energy consumption and is ideal for grinding hard materials.

Of the total volume of batteries and accumulators produced in the world, only 3% of the total volume is recycled, and there is heterogeneity in this indicator across countries. Yes, in the majority European countries 25-45% of all are recycled chemical sources current (HIT), in the USA - about 60% (97% lead-acid and 20-40% lithium-ion), in Australia - about 80%. Countries with an undeveloped chemical waste processing system are developing countries, where they are practically not recycled, but are disposed of with household waste.

Battery recycling in countries European Union is mandatory. Since September 26, 2008, all batteries, accumulators and their packaging must be marked with a special symbol (crossed out wheelie bin) - on the battery itself or on the packaging, depending on the size.

This special collection symbol informs consumers that batteries should not be disposed of in household waste. Instead, batteries should be returned to special items for processing. As a rule, all major retailers have battery collection boxes.

When batteries are produced in the European Union, their price initially includes a percentage for recycling, and the buyer in the store, having returned the old batteries, will receive a price discount on new batteries. The donated items are recycled. The leader in this process is Belgium, where up to 50% of batteries are sent for recycling.

All types of batteries produced in Europe can be recycled, regardless of whether they are rechargeable or not. For recycling purposes, it does not matter whether the battery is charged, partially discharged, or completely discharged. Once the batteries are collected, they are sorted and then, depending on what type they are, the batteries are sent to the appropriate recycling plant. For example, alkaline batteries are recycled in the UK, and nickel-cadmium batteries are recycled in France.

There are about 40 companies involved in battery recycling in Europe.

In the US, in the spring of 2013, a new volunteer nationwide campaign for battery recycling was launched. In addition to directly addressing consumers and attracting volunteers, it is planned to implement a number of measures that will fundamentally change the work of companies producing batteries. Distributors and sellers will be required to ensure that batteries are collected and recycled, removing all components that can still be used during recycling, and battery manufacturing companies will have to pay for the collection, processing and disposal of batteries.

In Australia, 70 thousand tons of lead-acid car batteries are recycled annually. In Wollongong, New South Wales, Auszinc operates a company that recycles household batteries. Batteries that cannot be recycled in Australia are exported to European facilities for recycling.

Until recently, in Russia there were only companies that collected and stored batteries. Recycling was expensive and not profitable.

Official activities for the acceptance and use of batteries legal entities was allowed since 2012 - before that for collection and storage hazardous waste a special license was required. In 2004, IKEA began collecting used batteries, but was forced to stop due to requirements from Rospotrebnadzor. The Timiryazev Museum, which has been accepting batteries since 2009, has suspended acceptance of raw materials due to a lack of space to store batteries.

The Megapolis Group company accepts and transfers batteries of all types for recycling.

One of the few organizations that accepts batteries for full further processing is the Moscow Ecocenter of the Moscow State Unitary Enterprise Industrial Waste, which uses vacuum technology to control harmful emissions when shredding batteries.

In April 2013, the Chelyabinsk company Megapolisresurs also announced its readiness to recycle used batteries from all over the country. The company's technology allows 80% of alkaline batteries to be recycled.

However, there are not enough raw materials to start a large-scale battery recycling process.

Megapolisresurs is a partner in the project for the collection of used household batteries and accumulators in Moscow stores of the Media Markt chain, which starts in the fall of 2013, and from the beginning of 2014 the initiative will spread throughout Russia. As batteries accumulate, they will be packaged in sealed containers in Chelyabinsk. Substances extracted from batteries during processing (graphite, zinc and manganese salts) can later be used both to create new batteries and in other industries, in particular in pharmaceuticals.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

The number of cars and other devices powered by batteries is constantly increasing. The urgency of the problem of recycling used batteries and batteries is also growing. After all, such batteries contain substances hazardous to human health and life.

The rechargeable battery must have the ability, with a compact size and low weight, to briefly - within 5-10 s - supply a current of 200-800 A to start the car engine and supply constant electric current to the car's consumers when the engine is not running. Lead-acid batteries meet these requirements. The battery plate grids are made of an alloy of lead and antimony, and the electrolyte is a solution of sulfuric acid. Lead is a toxic poisonous metal, it leads to poisoning of the human body and severe environmental pollution.

The service life of batteries is affected by storage conditions and quality repairs. With intensive use and compliance with maintenance rules, the battery service life is up to 120-150 thousand kilometers, or 2-5 years. If the rules of operation, maintenance and repair are not followed, the batteries fail much earlier, no more than 30-40 thousand kilometers.

Why recycling is needed

• The car fleet is growing every year, and the need for batteries is growing;
• lead is scarce due to limited deposits of this toxic metal;
• protection requirements have become more stringent surrounding nature from emissions and toxic hazardous waste;
• lead and its compounds belong to substances of hazard class 1, the strongest poisons, which even in small quantities cause chronic diseases with fatal outcomes;
• In terms of the amount of non-ferrous metals produced, lead ranks fourth in the world, after aluminum, copper and zinc. The amount of its waste is also growing;
• According to the current legislation of Russia, Ukraine and other countries, it is prohibited to dispose of batteries in household waste bins, garbage chutes and landfills;

• Not only lead is dangerous, but also the battery electrolyte, which is a solution of caustic and dangerous acids;
• recycling batteries will protect nature from dangerous toxic contamination. The scale of harm from massive batteries can be truly enormous;
• the total costs of remelting lead from recycled materials are much less than when producing them from scarce ore raw materials;
• The battery industry is one of the largest consumers of lead. Lead is returned as scrap metal from the disposal and recycling of used batteries. Lead recycling is recognized throughout the world as not only reasonable, but also economically and environmentally necessary and justified.

Where to donate your car battery

Special companies dispose of batteries, they collect them and send them for recycling. Rechargeable batteries are processed by factories that have necessary equipment, according to the accepted international level technologies. Many battery factories have their own lead recycling facilities or partner facilities. In developed countries, collection and recycling of batteries is a separate industry.

In order to properly dispose of an unusable battery, it must be recycled at collection points for recycled lead materials. Under no circumstances should you dispose of batteries yourself or store them in random places; this is prohibited.

At collection points, used batteries are placed on pallets or in containers with lids and transported to the recycling site in closed trailers or cars. This procedure and safety measures prevent the entry of lead or acid into environment.

Previously, in the USSR, distributors drained the electrolyte themselves, and the acid ended up in the environment. There is no need to drain the electrolyte now; this will be done by specialists at the factory.

Battery recycling technology involves several stages:

• electrolyte drain;
• cutting and crushing battery cases;
• melting batteries in furnaces - reflective or water jackets;
• division of the smelting product into 3 layers - molten rough lead, matte and slag;
• at the end of the rough lead is refined.

The resulting metal is used for casting grids and other battery parts.

To protect yourself from lead poisoning:

• handle batteries only with rubber gloves, use a respirator to protect your respiratory system;
• wash your hands hot water with soap, shower, do not eat where the battery is stored.

The presence of lead in the air is recognized by a sweetish taste in the mouth. Signs of lead poisoning are first nausea, dizziness, anemia, then a “lead border” on the gums, weakness, loss of appetite, convulsions, and kidney disease. If there are signs of poisoning, call a doctor, rinse your stomach before he arrives and drink as much water and soda as possible.

Bottom line

Recycled lead production from waste batteries is increasing. A system for collecting, transporting and recycling recycled lead materials will ensure harmless battery production and reliable environmental protection nature. Remember that it is better not to store old and unnecessary batteries at home, but to dispose of them with the help of specialists.

Take any battery and look carefully. Do you see the drawing of a container with a cross on it? It is not difficult to guess that this is how we are informed about the prohibition of throwing this item into a regular trash can. What if you throw it away? Unfortunately, even she will poison you with harmful substances 20 square meters land or 400 liters of water.

IN modern life one average Russian family uses up to half a kilogram of batteries per year. IN average size In the city, a ton or two accumulates every year, and in a metropolis - up to several tons of used batteries and accumulators.

Not all people know why batteries should not be thrown in the trash. While each of them is a compound of metals and chemicals, often poisonous and dangerous to all living things. Most often used in the production of batteries:

1. Nickel and cadmium. Both of these heavy metals are toxic. Water and crops grown on land poisoned by cadmium can cause skeletal deformation, lung or kidney dysfunction, and even malignant tumors in humans.
2. Zinc. Zinc salts have a burning effect and can damage the skin and mucous membranes. Poisoning a large number zinc intake can result in pulmonary edema, disruption of the heart and circulatory system.
3. Lithium. Has low toxicity. However, recycling lithium batteries also requires a special approach, since this element is capable of self-ignition when reacting with atmospheric oxygen or moisture, which can cause a fire.
4. Mercury. Mortal danger represent her couples. They are very poisonous and can lead a person to severe illness, dementia and even death.
5. Silver oxide. Not toxic.
6. Lead. In case of poisoning, it affects the brain, bones, liver and kidneys. Particularly dangerous for children. Known specific cases high child mortality from mass lead poisoning in Nigeria and Sinegal. The cause was lead contamination of the soil due to improper recycling of batteries and accumulators.
7. Cobalt. Excess cobalt can cause auditory neuritis, enlarged thyroid gland, dermatitis, allergies, and heart problems in humans.

In terms of the level of danger to humans, cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc are classified as class 1 (especially dangerous), cobalt and nickel are classified as class 2. Even seemingly insignificant poisoning with these substances can pose a serious threat to his health and life.

What happens to battery-powered devices that we carelessly throw in the usual trash bin?

How to dispose of batteries safely? The answer is very simple and obvious: under no circumstances “just throw it away”! They must definitely go to a specialized enterprise that professionally deals with their disposal.

Features of the technological process

Completely environmentally friendly battery recycling technology – current problem for the whole world. Unfortunately, even in advanced countries, these recycling processes are still far from being completely environmentally friendly.

According to statistics, in the world only 3% of the total volume of battery devices produced gets a second life. Of course, the situation is radically different in different countries. For example, in Australia, recycling and disposal accounts for almost 80% of the country's total, in the USA - about 60%.

Much attention is paid to obsolete batteries in Europe. As a rule, you can return batteries for recycling at many large shopping centers countries of the European Union, special containers for collection are installed there. In addition, by returning old batteries, the consumer receives a discount on the purchase of a new similar product.

In Russia, just a few years ago, environmentally friendly battery recycling was practically non-existent. Recycling batteries is possible only at specialized enterprises, but as a business this type of activity was unprofitable: the process itself was more expensive than the subsequent sale of the resulting raw materials.

As a result, there was a small number of companies in the country engaged in the collection and storage of these specific products. But batteries were recycled for money. That is, not only do you need to find such an enterprise, you also need to pay out of your own pocket. How much does it cost to recycle batteries? It turns out that it’s not so little: today it’s about 100 rubles per kilogram.

Volunteers who were ready to collect battery waste from the public for free faced other tangible difficulties. For example, in 2004, IKEA began collecting by organizing collection points in its stores, but this process had to be stopped due to the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor. The K.A. Timiryazev State Biological Museum accepted battery mini-devices for storage for some time, but the available tanks were quickly filled.

Fortunately, today the situation is beginning to change. Since 2013, a battery recycling plant has been operating in Chelyabinsk. This is where waste batteries from all over the country are currently supplied. Its technologies, according to Greenpeace representatives, make it possible to recycle batteries and accumulators by 80%. The recycling plant actively cooperates with enterprises that are ready to take on the functions of collecting hazardous waste from the population. However, there are still many problems in this issue of recycling in the country.

There are different technologies working with hazardous recyclables.

For example, lead extraction occurs in several steps:

1. The batteries are loaded into a concrete well equipped with an electromagnet on top and a grid on the bottom.
2. The magnet attracts excess metal, and electrolytes flow through the mesh into a separate container.
3. The bulk is crushed by a crusher into small pieces.
4. Water spray under high pressure separates the materials: separately small parts with plastic and large pieces.
5. Large parts are then transferred to a special container with caustic soda, where everything eventually turns into lead paste.
6. Lead paste is melted in a separate bunker.
7. As a result of smelting, hard and soft lead is obtained, as well as its alloys according to specific orders. Finished lead ingots are not inferior in quality to those just produced from lead ore.

Cadmium extraction is carried out by two main methods:

1. Hydrometallurgical (using ammonia, sulfuric acid and saline solutions). With a high degree of environmental friendliness this method gives a low degree of cadmium extraction.
2. Pyrometallurgical, for example, vacuum distillation. Production from high degree environmental hazard. The resulting cadmium oxide is of low quality.

Unfortunately, there are no universal and completely environmentally friendly methods with high profitability. But science is constantly looking for new ways to solve problems.

What to do with used batteries?

Obviously, you simply cannot take the issue of how to properly dispose of batteries lightly.

What should the average consumer do? Where to dispose of hazardous waste, where can you take it quickly and without much time and money?

Fortunately, today there are options.

1. In many cities, volunteers and environmental activists collect batteries for recycling on their own. During the campaign, they either go around houses or set up points where batteries are collected.
2. There are special containers on sale specifically for storing outdated battery mini-devices at home. They are hermetically sealed with a removable lid, allowing you to refill at any time. This way, you can store used batteries at home for a long time until you have the opportunity to recycle them.
3. Today, many electronics stores that have entered into an agreement with a recycling company already accept batteries for recycling. For this purpose, special collection containers are located in the salons. If you don’t see such a container, ask the sellers, perhaps they know where the nearest one is located in your area.
4. Joined the acceptance of old devices in exchange for the purchase of new ones big business for sale household appliances – retail chains, salons retail sales which are found in almost any big city Russia. The list of accepted goods also includes batteries. By handing them over, you will receive a bonus in the form of a significant discount on the purchase of new goods.

In many developed countries, the question of whether batteries can be thrown in the trash has been resolved at the legal level. Garbage collectors, having discovered hazardous waste, say, in ordinary food waste, they will simply fine the house management, and they, in turn, will find and punish the offender. The population is well informed where to dispose of batteries and other hazardous waste. There are fines for both manufacturers and large electronics stores for not having battery collection points where batteries should be handed over to the public centrally.

Of course, in Russia there is no such control yet. But each of us, personally, is quite capable of treating environmental problems meaningfully and responsibly. After all, the earth, air and water are common, and we all equally need a clean and safe environment.

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Used batteries are the most common type of waste. Their service life ranges from 3-5 years, after which the battery is replaced with a new one. Therefore, the driver needs to know where to return the old battery.

This raw material is very difficult to dispose of, since both alkaline and acid containers contain harmful substances that are dangerous to come into contact with. The electrolyte of acid batteries contains sulfuric acid, diluted in a certain proportion. In addition to it, they contain lead of the first hazard class). By interacting with sulfuric acid, which belongs to the second hazard class, harmful lead compounds are formed.

Alkaline batteries contain nickel, and the electrolyte is alkali - an element no less harmful to the environment. Nickel-metal hybrids are also toxic.

Since the number of vehicles in the world is growing every day, the number of batteries is correspondingly increasing, which it is not advisable to simply throw away if we want to leave a clean environment for posterity and not harm ourselves today.

After all, simply touching the lead poles of batteries discarded where children play can be dangerous. Therefore, the problem associated with the processing of these products is receiving great attention all over the world.

The heavy metals they contain can cause irreparable harm to health. According to statistics, up to 10 tons of lead-containing waste are released throughout the republic per year.

And this is a strong poison, along with mercury and arsenic, causing cell death, which results in anemia, heart disease, etc.

In order to protect yourself and others from such a dangerous impact, used batteries must be disposed of, despite the fact that they were used in trucks, passenger cars or motorcycles, I have a power of 6 or 12 volts.

Video: Recycling batteries, or how they are turned into salts, iron and graphite

If batteries are not disposed of, the soil, air and water become polluted. Many people do not know where to return used batteries, so they throw them away. garbage containers. To recycle used containers, they must be taken to a collection point.

Specialized collection points for used batteries, i.e. which have reached the end of their service life can be found in any city today. Finding out where to return your battery is easy. All you have to do is use the Internet by writing a query in the search bar. Websites specializing in the acceptance and disposal of used batteries provide addresses and prices, depending on the capacity of the used battery.

In addition to payment, at points where batteries are returned, they offer a 3% discount card for purchasing a new battery at a discount.

Often such companies, concerned about saving time, want to recycle dangerous sources power supply, there is a service for self-pickup of used batteries. This applies to both small cities and megacities, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, etc.

You can find out all the details from the manager by calling the numbers listed on the sites where old batteries are handed over. Companies work with enterprises and individuals. They accept used batteries in any quantity, without electrolyte or with it.

Every car owner who recycles their used battery makes, albeit a small, contribution to preserving the environment.

A package of documents is issued for batteries accepted for recycling:

• contract;
• copy of the license;
• acceptance certificate.

Companies accepting used batteries in Moscow are located at the following addresses:

• The Akom company accepts old batteries at a price of 30 rubles per kilogram (retail) and 35 rubles if it is a wholesale delivery. The warehouse is located at: st. Kalmykova 66/3;
• The Energomet company, which has a license for hazardous waste management, also offers its recycling service. It offers citizens and businesses services for the dismantling, recycling and disposal of all types of batteries, including special-purpose batteries, without and with electrolyte. A flexible payment system for regular and new customers makes recycling beneficial for both parties. Head office address - Lyubertsy, st. Electrification 3 V;
• Eco-Metals recommends contacting it if you need to recycle an old battery. The enterprise has all the permitting documents, therefore it exports hazardous waste outside of Moscow. Company address: Podolsk, st. Lobacheva, 6. You can read more about its activities on the website http://ecometally.ru/ ;
• Lom-AKB is also a company specializing in the removal and recycling of batteries whose service life has expired. It can organize the removal of batteries weighing more than 50 kg for subsequent disposal. The client will receive money to purchase a new battery ( http://www.priem-akkumulyatorov.ru/ );
• More than 20 collection points located in Moscow and the region belong to the Oskab company. You can check the addresses and prices on the website http://www.oskab.ru/ ;
• By visiting the site http://akum.org/, you can choose the collection point closest to you. This is the site of the Energia company, which will remove the old battery for recycling.

There are many other companies whose focus is battery recycling. To choose the option that is most suitable, just write in the search bar the query “Moscow enterprises engaged in recycling used batteries” or “where to recycle an old battery.”

Video: Acceptance of batteries in Moscow

On average, for a used battery recycled, the client receives:

• 600 rubles (6ST-55);
• 700 rubles (6ST-75);
• 850 rubles (6ST – 100);
• 1200 rubles (6ST-132);
• 2000 rubles (6ST -225).

In addition to the monetary reward, as mentioned, a discount card is issued for the purchase of a new battery with a 3% discount in the network of the selected company. This benefits customers by helping to save the environment.

Video: Battery recycling