Most people don’t know what happens to a battery after it runs out of charge. The average battery sits for 10-15 years before its charge is completely gone; after that, what happens matters more than people think.
Batteries are not like old tech, they’re hazardous waste
In the UK, Lithium and lead-acid batteries are hazardous waste. They can leak and even catch fire. Leaving it next to the rest of the trash is not an option. There are strict policies for transporting and collecting batteries.
If you have batteries as part of a solar system, eventually you will need to deal with the battery disposal. The solar installers will not have any responsibility to dispose of the batteries, unless they have stated otherwise. Many installers won’t say much because by the time a battery reaches the end of cycle time, it has been long ago since the original installation and the conversation has already moved on.
What actually happens when a battery is replaced
The proper steps are as follows:
- Battery Assessment – analyzing whether the battery’s performance has dipped to the point of a total loss or if a more cost-effective repair is a feasible solution.
- Safe Removal – all batteries must be properly disconnected, especially lithium-ion batteries.
- Approved Transport – the battery is moved by a licensed hazardous waste carrier and accompanied by either a waste transfer note or a consignment note.
- Recycling or Disposal – in most cases, a more environmentally sound option is to rehab all the materials rather than send them to a landfill.
Bypassing any of these steps does not transfer the liability to other parties if the property owner is aware of the hazardous battery waste.
Why this is our meeting point
We are capable of both installing battery units from solar systems and managing hazardous waste. Most other solar companies are only capable of the former. When your battery unit is beyond its operable end, we are fully licensed to remove it instead of letting you find a licensed contractor to handle it.
If you are due a battery replacement, or you are trying to preempt what your options will be for the replacement, visit Battery Recycling & Disposal for all the details.