Lead acid battery types, handling and disposal

A battery label can describe its design or its job. "Flooded lead-acid" is the design. "Forklift" is where it worked. "Deep cycle" is the kind of work it did. When you list batteries for collection, write down everything on the label.

Century's deep-cycle product information explains flooded, AGM and gel types. Check the maker's details for your battery, as similar cases can hide different types.

A valve regulated lead acid battery is sealed, but it can still leak, build pressure or short. Treat any damaged unit on its own.

Transport rules for non-spillable batteries depend on specific conditions. Do not assume an exemption because the label says sealed. Ask the maker or a qualified transport provider.

Keep labels readable. If one is missing, send photos and say the type is unknown. Do not guess.

For a car battery, start with a battery retailer or a council transfer station that takes them. Some newer vehicles use other battery types, so check what yours is.

Hume, Darebin, Boroondara and Monash councils take household or car batteries at their recycling sites. Our Melbourne battery directory compares them. Check each council's hours and limits.

Ordinary B-cycle return points do not take lead-acid batteries. Never leave a car battery beside a small battery box.

A bank of industrial batteries is not a household load. Tell a council site it comes from a business, with the count and weight, before you take it there.

One UPS cabinet can hold many batteries. List how many batteries and which model, as well as how many cabinets. The technician who looks after the system should confirm the type.

Agree the shutdown with your own staff first. The electrical work comes before collection. A collection crew should never decide whether a live system can be disconnected.

If strings come out on different days, label each batch with where and when it came from. Keep old batteries apart from spares. If cabinets and chargers are going too, list them separately.

A forklift battery is much heavier than it looks. Get the weight from the equipment details, not a guess from a photo.

The forklift dealer or a qualified technician must disconnect it and take it out of the machine. Ask whether a lifting frame or other equipment is needed.

Tell the collector about the floor, doorway widths, loading area and what lifting gear you have. Keep people clear of the route. WorkSafe Victoria's forklift guidance covers forklift safety at work.

Do not assume the forklift being serviced can load its own old battery. If another machine or a crane is needed, book it before collection day.

Tell us about cracks, leaks, heavy corrosion, swelling, missing caps, impact damage or heat. Say which battery is affected. Say if any are still connected.

Never drain acid or take cells apart to make a battery lighter. Never wash a leak into a drain.

If there is an active leak, heat or other danger, follow your site's emergency plan and keep people away. Collection waits until it is safe.

Keep old batteries in their own marked area, not a mixed cage where terminals can touch metal. Keep them upright if their design needs it. Cover the terminals without hiding the label.

Do not stockpile them in narrow plant rooms or near walkways. The EPA Victoria battery guideline covers how to store waste batteries.

Have someone check the area until collection. If a battery gets damaged after we have quoted, tell us before loading.

Wet lead-acid batteries are usually Class 8 dangerous goods. Non-spillable types can have different rules. The right rules depend on the battery, its condition and the load.

These come from the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, edition 7.9 and Victorian rules. A qualified provider should confirm packing, tie-down, terminal covers and labels.

A flat battery is still not safe for unrestricted transport. The acid is still there and some charge may remain. Never try to discharge one yourself.

Ask the supplier of the new batteries what they cover: disconnection, removal, storage on site and transport. Otherwise the old batteries can be left sitting in a plant room after the new ones go in.

Share the plan with facilities, maintenance and the collector. Agree who signs off on releasing the old batteries.

For repeat jobs, keep the models, weights and access notes on file. Next time is much easier.