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When Route 66 Auto Repair in Upland replaces your car battery, the old one goes back for recycling instead of into a trash bin. Car batteries hold lead and sulfuric acid, and in California a lead-acid battery cannot go in household trash. Nearly all of the lead and plastic in a car battery can be reclaimed, so returning it keeps those materials in use and out of the landfill.
Why can't a car battery go in the trash?
A lead-acid battery contains lead plates and acid that can leak if the case cracks. In a landfill, that can reach soil and water. California treats these batteries as hazardous waste, and CalRecycle (opens in a new tab) lists safe ways to dispose of them. Handing it to a shop that installs batteries is one of the simplest.
Recycling also has a practical side. The lead is melted and reused, the plastic case is ground and molded again, and the acid is neutralized or reprocessed.
How should you handle an old battery before you bring it in?
- Keep it upright so acid cannot run out of the vents
- Wear gloves, since the outside can carry acid residue
- Set it in a plastic tub or box in the trunk, not on carpet
- Keep it away from sparks and flames, as it can vent hydrogen
- Do not stack anything on a swollen or cracked case
What happens to your old battery here
Step 1: Remove carefully
The technician lifts the battery out, checks for leaks and keeps it upright.
Step 2: Store safely
It is set in a contained area away from customer spaces and heat sources.
Step 3: Return for recycling
It goes back through the parts supply chain for recycling with the other cores.
What's included
Included on the work order
- 01Removal of the old battery during a replacement
- 02Leak and case check
- 03Contained, upright storage
- 04Return for recycling
- 05Any core charge shown as its own line on the written estimate
How soon does an old battery need to go?
Need now: call
- A cracked, leaking or swollen battery in a garage or car
- A battery that got wet or was dropped
Need later: book
- A dry, intact spare you no longer need
How pricing and timing work
Taking back the old battery is part of our replacement work. If a core charge applies to your new battery, the estimate shows it clearly before you approve. Replacement time depends on where the battery sits in your car.
Aftercare
If acid dripped in your trunk on the way over, rinse the spot with plenty of water and tell us. We can look at the area when you drop off.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drop off an old battery without buying a new one?
Call (909) 608-7699 first so the counter can tell you what we can accept that day. Local household hazardous waste sites also take them.
What about hybrid or electric vehicle batteries?
This service covers 12-volt lead-acid batteries. Large hybrid packs are a different system. Tell us it is a hybrid at intake and we will explain what we can take on.
Is a swollen battery dangerous?
It can be. Swelling often means overheating or overcharging. Keep it upright, ventilated and away from sparks, and do not try to charge it.