Although forklift batteries are rechargeable, they will lose their charge at some point during their lifespan and become unusable. When this occurs, you should consider recycling your forklift battery so that it doesn’t harm the environment, which would happen if you chose to throw it away in a landfill.
If you have never recycled a forklift battery before, don’t worry. Here is a brief guide to recycling a forklift battery so you can get started on learning how to do this.
Discharge Your Lithium-Ion Battery Before Recycling
Before recycling a lithium-ion battery, your battery must go through a complete discharge so there isn’t any lithium left over. Since these batteries contain lithium, they will react poorly when they come into contact with moisture. The chemical reaction between lithium and moisture could occur anywhere, including a landfill, where it can severely hamper the natural soil.
Heavy metals like lithium are toxic to the environment, and some companies will try to burn or dump their old forklift batteries to bypass government regulations for these chemicals. However, you can do your part in preserving the environment by fully discharging your lithium-ion batteries before you recycle them.
Understand Why You Should Recycle Your Battery
Recycling a forklift battery is not only good for the environment, but for business as well. Many companies offer high-quality refurbished forklift batteries for sale, often at a discounted price. In addition, companies will disassemble a forklift battery into separate parts.
When forklift battery acid becomes safe enough to handle, manufacturers will convert it into sodium sulfate, which is a chemical used for making glass, laundry detergent, and certain fabrics. The plastic exterior of a forklift battery can be used for making newer battery cases.
Learn About the Regulations Surrounding Forklift Battery Recycling
As you know, forklift batteries contain many toxic chemicals, which is why the government regulates them for public safety. When handling a forklift battery, be sure to familiarize yourself with all the laws and rules related to this activity before going into it.
To ensure proper care when handling a forklift battery, make sure your caps are tightly sealed so that liquid can’t escape, use strong pallets to transfer your batteries so they don’t fall off or break, and wear personal protective equipment to avoid injury. Also, you will want to use cardboard or wood for packaging your batteries because a metal container could cause sparks if it touches the battery terminals.
Overall, recycling a battery requires a bit of caution, but it’s all worthwhile because you will help the environment and your company. After reading this brief guide to recycling a forklift battery, you should be able to do this activity without any hassles.
