Seattle area car battery recycler that pays a bounty?

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by cwerdna, Apr 7, 2011.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I wasn't sure whether to post here (since it is sort of environmental related) or FHOP.

    Does anyone know of a recycler in the Seattle area (preferably on the Eastside) that will take my stock 12 volt battery and pay me for it?

    I replaced it with an Optima D51. I can definitely drop it off for recycling at Costco or auto parts stores but wouldn't receive anything for it. Since I bought the Optima D51 thru elarnaid, they didn't charge me a WA state core fee (Chapter 173-331 WAC: Vehicle battery recycling).

    At Redmond Wastemobile Event - Garbage and Recycling Services - King County Solid Waste Division, it claims "Some places will actually pay you a bounty for bringing in an old car battery." My Google-fu hasn't been very good at finding places which state online that they'll pay a bounty.
     
  2. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    By the each, given the size of the battery I would be surprised if anyone paid you much for it. Your best bet would be a scrap metal yard. Taking barreled back is probably a wash at best for service depts.


    Icarus
     
  3. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,188
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    There was no core charge for the replacement battery from the Toyota dealer, but they did say I could bring it back to them for recycling.
     
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    ^bump

    Anyone? If nobody knows of a place that will pay me anything for my old OEM 12 volt, I'm just going to drop it off for recycling at my local O'Reilly auto parts.

    I already tried calling a few scrap metal recyclers (very few are within reasonable driving distance of me) and of the ones that would accept it, none would pay me anything for it.
     
  5. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Not sure if it is worth it.. in our state we are charged 5$ deposit on new battery which you get back when you bring old. 5$ isn't something to drive over just saying
     
  6. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    On the solar forum, I just read a thread about prices of recycled batteries. It seems that scrap lead ingot is worth about $.58/lbs. (that is lead weight, not battery weight) so the tiny Prius battery might have 10 lbs? Of lead. Factor in the cost to break it down, make the remainder safe, the net value of the battery about zero. If someone will take it for nothing, you are getting a bargain. Our 120# solar batteries, when dropped off at large numbers have some limited value.

    Icarus
     
  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Yeah, in WA state, there is a core charge added on when you buy a 12 volt battery. You get it back when you give them your old battery.

    Problem is, I didn't buy the Optima D51 in WA, so retailers won't give my core charge "back" that I didn't pay them in the first place.
     
  8. stefano5777

    stefano5777 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2011
    380
    47
    6
    Location:
    St. Petersburg Florida
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    What about Toyota?? You paid them the state deposit when you bought the car from them wouldn't that warrant them having to give you your deposit back when you bring them the battery? Maybe if you explain it to them that way they will have no choice but to take it? Its worth a shot:D
     
  9. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    How much trouble are you willing to go to for $5?
     
  10. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I called the dealer I normally go to for service before. They won't give me anything for it.
    It's now moot. I dropped it off today at O'Reilly as I have a out of town visitor coming on Sunday.

    I wouldn't go through too much trouble for $5 (esp. if it wasn't worth it in fuel costs roundtrip), but I couldn't even find a place to give me a penny for it, let alone $5.
     
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,630
    8,524
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    there are some women (and {shudder] men) that will do quite a bit for $5. . . . I mean ... so I've heard.
    ;)
     
    1 person likes this.