New ammo law

[S.A. Boggs]

Lead used to be a major component in electronics manufacturing, in the solder. Virtually all electronics now are lead-free in manufacturing. Military applications are an exception, where lead has desirable mechanical properties.

EMP?
Sam

[Art]

Sorry Art but dumping or discarding lead acid batteries went away years ago. I ran a battery recycling business for 3 years and the problem was a shortage of junk batteries, not an excess. I had crews on the road calling on anybody that had junk cars, used car dealers, and farmers. In 2005 we were paying $2.50 for a run of the mill junk car battery that had an average weight of 32 lbs. By 2008 we were paying $10 for the same batteries. In 2007 we shipped over 40 tons a week to refineries in Doe Run, Alpharetta, GA, and St Joesph MO. That is two semi trailer loads a week. IIRC, By 2009 the price for a for the average junk battery was up to $.30/lb and our output was down by 50%.

Today the lead price on the LME is $1954 per U.S. ton, which is about the same as it was back in 2008. People don't throw away lead acid batteries anymore. The recycling rate for them is over 90% and far higher than aluminum cans.

Thanks Red. That's good news. Maybe my auto repair guy ought to start buying my battery from me when it wears out instead of making me pay him to take it.

[togor]

EMP?
Sam

Lead-tin solder is less brittle and whets better than lead-free solders such as the common SAC305. This means lower chances of a cracked solder joint in high vibration applications. A mundane answer.

[RED]

Thanks Red. That's good news. Maybe my auto repair guy ought to start buying my battery from me when it wears out instead of making me pay him to take it.

He is ripping you off. The LME spot lead price is approximately $1.00/lb. Recyclers will usually pay 25 - 30% of that. A F150 Ford truck uses a BCI group 65 battery that (on the average) weighs in at 44+ pounds. So if he is charging you for taking your junk battery he is getting paid twice!

The battery recycling business was at one time very profitable. Believe it or not approximately 20% of the batteries we bought as junk were discharged but serviceable. We would recharge them and then resell them to used car dealers for $30. Then it got to be hard to find junk batteries and we had to pay $8 - $10 for them and the secondary refineries were only paying $.35/lb. Then here comes China... they were paying even more than the refineries! But alas the competition was terrific and more and more people found out that dead batteries were very valuable.

Missouri passed a law in 200? charging $.50 tax on every auto battery sold. They collected millions of dollars and never recycled a single battery. The local governments would sometimes get batteries in their dumpsters and they would call us to come get them... but we would have to pay them the going rate.