What we buy

Are old car batteries worth anything?

They are heavy, they are worth money, and they are one of the few things you genuinely cannot put in a council bin.

AA Copper Recycling, Holden Hill · · 4 min read

Car batteries are among the most recycled products there are, and almost all of a lead acid battery gets reused. That is why they have a scrap value instead of a disposal cost.

What they are worth

Lead acid batteries are paid by weight, and a standard car battery is heavier than people expect. Truck and 4WD batteries are worth proportionally more. Ring 0435 805 124 and we will give you today's rate.

The value is in the lead, which is most of the weight, plus the plastic casing and the acid, both of which get processed.

Which batteries we take

  • Car and 4WD batteries. The common one.
  • Truck and machinery batteries. Heavier, worth more each.
  • Motorcycle and mower batteries. Small but still lead acid.
  • Deep cycle and marine batteries. Caravans, boats, solar setups.
  • Forklift and industrial cells. Very heavy, worth a conversation before you move them.

Which we do not

  • Lithium ion batteries. Power tool packs, laptops, phones, EV packs. These need specialist handling and a different recycler.
  • Household alkaline batteries. Council and some retailers run collection points for these.
  • Any battery that is split, leaking or swollen. Ring first and we will tell you how to handle it safely.

Moving them safely

  1. Keep them upright. Always. A tipped battery leaks acid.
  2. Carry from the base, not the terminals.
  3. Do not let anything metal bridge the two terminals. That is a short circuit and it can throw sparks.
  4. If a battery is cracked or wet, do not handle it without gloves and eye protection. Ring us and ask.
  5. In a ute, strap them so they cannot tip or slide.

If you have a few

Mechanics, auto electricians and farms often have a stack of them building up in a corner. That is a free pickup rather than a trip, and it clears a corner of the workshop that has been a problem for a year.

Ring and tell us roughly how many and we will come and get them.

Common questions

How much is a car battery worth as scrap?

They are paid by weight and a standard car battery is heavier than it looks, with truck and 4WD batteries worth proportionally more. Ring 0435 805 124 for today's rate.

Can you put a car battery in the bin?

No. They contain lead and sulphuric acid, they crack in collection trucks, and disposing of them that way is illegal. They have a scrap value, so there is no reason to.

Do you take lithium batteries?

No. Lithium ion packs from power tools, laptops and electric vehicles need specialist handling and a different recycler. We take lead acid batteries only.

Do you collect batteries from workshops?

Yes. If you have a stack building up, that is a free pickup rather than a trip. Ring and tell us roughly how many.

Got batteries stacking up?

Free pickup across Adelaide's north-east. Ring and tell us how many and we will come and clear them out.

Call 0435 805 124