Orscheln Farm & Home will host its second annual battery exchange March 28-29. Customers can bring any two automotive, marine, farm, truck or four lawn and garden batteries in for recycling and receive a $6 gift card.
Last year, Orscheln collected more than 100,000 units or 3.7 million pounds of batteries that will be recycled into new batteries.
Scrap batteries contain lead and acid. Lead is a carcinogen and in the blood stream is hazardous to humans. Acid is considered a hazard. It is corrosive and dangerous to humans and animals. Batteries stored for a long period of time – like outside in barns or garages – and not heated will discharge and freeze. Frozen batteries may break the case and acid will leak out, eating away at anything it comes in contact with.
Orscheln’s battery supplier uses 100 percent of the scrap battery – nothing is turned into a hazardous waste site. The lead and plastic are used in the making of new batteries. The battery acid has the heavy metals removed and used in new batteries. The air from the smelter is cleaned through bag houses and scrubbed with water. Ammonia is then added, producing fertilizer, which is used on farms.
The business operates a store on South Sam Houston Blvd. in Houston.