Here are some answers to common frequently asked questions (FAQs) about recycling scrap metals, catalytic converters, and old automotive batteries. Battery recycling and catalytic converter recycling can be lucrative, which is why so many scrapyards and recycling firms help business owners and individuals do the environmentally responsible thing.
How should I pack aluminum wheels for bulk recycling?
You can stack them on wooden pallets. Consider making a box out of cardboard and wire to help hold them in place. You should further prepare those wheels by removing the lead weights that almost all have.
What are the environmental benefits of aluminum recycling?
In short, recycling aluminum scrap takes far less energy than mining aluminum ore and extracting the metal. Mining can contaminate air, water, and soil so reducing the need for mining is good for the environment. Bulky metal items, like wheels, take up space in landfills too.
How much valuable metal is in a catalytic converter?
It depends on the model, but 3 to 7 grams a piece is the general range. Old catalytic converters had more because they were less efficient. Certain models may have more platinum group metals (PGMs) in them too. The small amount of palladium, platinum, or rhodium in each catalytic converter still adds up. If you recycle 100 units with an average of 2 grams of platinum, that is still 200 grams, seven ounces, of platinum. Recently, platinum was fetching $890 per ounce. That same collection of 100 parts would contain a few ounces of palladium as well. Palladium recently (October 2022) sold for $2,118 per ounce.
How are catalytic converters recycled?
The important part of a catalytic converter is the honeycomb core of the device. The metal or ceramic part is coated in a material that contains platinum, palladium, and/or rhodium. This core must be removed from the steel case, which can also be recycled. The honeycomb is crushed, ground up, and melted.
Some catalytic converter recycling companies, like Belanger Converter Recycling, can take converters in bulk, decan them (remove the cores) and sell them or hedge the PGMs they contain on behalf of a customer.
What are used catalytic converters worth?
This question really has two answers. Sometimes used converters can be sold and reinstalled on a vehicle. However, this recycling method is limited by the need to find a car that requires a specific model of converter. As scrap, the value depends heavily on how much of the catalyst material the unit contains. The material value of an old catalytic converter changes almost daily with fluctuations in the market prices for PGMs.
What is the best way to ship old catalytic converters in bulk?
As with aluminum wheels, batteries, and other bulk auto parts, catalytic converters should be collected on pallets. Create a box that is sturdy enough to hold the parts in place. Do not remove the honeycomb core, as this makes it impossible to know how much platinum and palladium each shipment contains. The recycler will depend on reading the model number inscribed on the outside of each piece.
Why is catalytic converter recycling important?
The easily recycled steel shells waste space if they are dumped in a landfill. More importantly, platinum and palladium mining causes environmental damage. Mining consumes a huge amount of energy, generated by fossil fuels. Mining also contaminates water and soil, while generating lots of solid waste that must be stored somewhere. Depending on the mining technology, extracting more metal from rock can consume a substantial amount of water.
Why should we recycle lead-acid automotive batteries?
Lead, which accounts for most of the battery’s mass, is easy to recover and reuse in new batteries or in a range of other applications. Every pound of lead recycled is a pound that does not have to be mined, an energy-intensive process that introduces significant environmental costs, like water contamination. The plastic components and the sulfuric acid may also be worth recovering and reusing too. These are the reasons why battery recycling is so important.
Why can’t I landfill some old car batteries?
In brief, because this is probably illegal where you live. The law requires that automotive batteries be recycled. The reason for this is quite simple – the batteries contain toxic lead and acid which can leach into the soil and then the water under or near a dump site. Fortunately, many battery recycling options exist, for individuals and for businesses that tend to collect old automotive batteries.
How are lead acid car batteries recycled?
After they leave the recycling collection point, the recycler will separate the lead from the plastic case. The acid will be treated and then either dumped or turned into a useful industrial chemical, sodium sulphate. The lead will be melted and forged into plates that can be reworked into new battery components, among other things.
How are EV batteries recycled?
Because electric vehicle batteries contain different metals (lithium to be specific) the recycling process is different. Recyclers can use one of two methods, though both start with crushing the battery to create a powder. Then, that material is either heated or washed in several chemical solutions that extract the metals.
Catalytic converter recycling, battery recycling, and scrap metals from other sources can all generate income and help protect the environment. If you have aluminum wheels, lead-acid automotive batteries, or catalytic converters to recycle in bulk, consider sending your scrap to Belanger Converter Recycling. They also have an app, Group Catalyst, for Android and iOS phones. The app helps users price converters and compile an inventory.
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