Determination of rate of recycling

The conventional approach for calculating recycling rates implemented by

some countries consists of dividing the number of batteries collected by the number of
batteries sold (International Lead and Zinc Study Group 2001). This ignores the
numbers of batteries imported or exported in vehicles and variations in battery life
spans.

From the half yearly returns filed by the manufacturer, importer, dealer to the
SPCB and annual returns filed by the recyclers to the SPCB, the quantity of batteries
collected and sold in a year can be derived.

UNEP Basel Convention Training Manual on National Management Plans for

Used Lead Acid Batteries (2004) suggests a method to determine the quantity of
ULAB generated each year. According to this manual, the number of batteries that
will become ULAB per annum is determined by dividing the total number of battery
units by the average life span of LAB.

Year:
No. of No. of Average ULAB
S. No. of
Type of Battery Units Units Life generated
No Units
imported exported Span in the year
(7)=[(3)+(4)-
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
(5)] / (6)
I Automotive
1 Four wheeler
2 Two wheeler
II Industrial
1 UPS
2 Motive Power
3 Stand-by
III Others
(inverters &
other)
TOTAL

Recycling rate = (Total ULAB collected & processed by recyclers in a

year/Total ULAB generated in a year) x 100%.
 Obviously the closer to 100%, the better the recycling rate and any figure
above 95% would be classified as close to environmentally sound management of
LAB.

Factors affecting recycling

Some of the important factors that may influence the rate of recycling include
lead prices, fuel prices, incentive to recycle, distance to the recycling plant, recycling
plant capacity, scrap dealers and recycling depots (recyclers).

A questionnaire will be sent to the retailers to get their preference with respect
to recycling. A multiple regression analysis would be carried out using the
response.

Table Sample Questionnaire

1. Number of automotive battery retail outlets (00’s, 000’s, 0000’s)

2. Are used batteries collected at the retail outlets?
3. What happens to used batteries collected at retail outlets?
4. How are used lead acid batteries stored at the retail outlets?
5. How are ULAB collected at retail outlets transported to
recyclers?
6. Are batteries drained of electrolyte prior to transportation?
7. Are used batteries reconditioned?
8. Where are used batteries reconditioned?
9. How are used batteries stored in the collection centers?
10 How is spillage contained in collection centers?
.
11 What are the transport arrangements from collection centers to
. the recyclers?
12 Are any used batteries exported for recycling?
.
13 What happens to used lead acid batteries that are not collected
. for recycling?
14 Reason for not collecting
.
a. Lead price
b. Distance to recycling plant
c. Capacity of recycling plant
d. Presence of scrap dealers
e. Participation of manufacturers and distributors
f. Refund

Efficiency of recovery
Efficiency of lead recovery is based on material balance study. The Tables
below show the data to be obtained from Registered Recyclers. The lead content in
each type of battery is to be obtained from the battery manufacturers from which the
average lead content will be worked out.

Table Supply of Lead Scrap to Registered Recyclers

Name & Address of the Recycler:

Year:
No. of Average Lead
S. units content per Total Lead
Type of Battery
No unit Content (kg)
(kg/unit)
I Automotive
1 Four wheeler
2 Two wheeler
II Industrial
1 UPS
2 Motive Power
3 Stand-by
III Others (inverters & other)
TOTAL

From the above Table, lead per ton of scrap can be obtained.

Name & Address of the Recycler:

Year:
Weight of lead Total weight of
S. Name of No. of Weight
in each lead recovered
No item/product items (MT)
item/product (kg) (kg)
1
2
3
TOTAL

Environmental Performance Indicators

To determine whether ULAB recovery is environmentally sound. This is done
by comparing the procedures and mechanisms used against the practices set out in the
Basel Convention

Deposit-Refund

Determination of cost of recycling per ton (including transportation cost)

 DATA FROM BATTERY MANUFACTURERS
Weight (kg)
S. M1 M2 M3
Type of Battery
No (Amaron) (Duracell) (Tata)
I Automotive
1 Four wheeler
2 Two wheeler
II Industrial
1 UPS
2 Motive Power
3 Stand-by
III Others (inverters & other)

Find the average weight of every type of battery

Lead content (kg) per battery

S.
Type of Battery M1 M2 M3
No
I Automotive
1 Four wheeler
2 Two wheeler
II Industrial
1 UPS
2 Motive Power
3 Stand-by
III Others (inverters & other)

Find the average lead content in every type of battery

Life span
S.
Type of Battery M1 M2 M3
No
I Automotive
1 Four wheeler
2 Two wheeler
II Industrial
1 UPS
2 Motive Power
3 Stand-by
III Others (inverters & other)

Find the average life span of each type of battery