Can I store old batteries on site until replacement day?

For a short period, yes, if they are kept upright, dry, ventilated, with terminals insulated, away from ignition sources and from public access. Swollen or leaking units should be separated and removed first.

Do you collect batteries you did not supply?

Yes. Collection, transport and documentation are offered as a standalone service, independently of who supplied the original system.

What happens to a damaged lithium module?

It is treated as a higher risk consignment: isolated, packed individually in a non conductive container, kept away from other cells, and transported separately. Do not attempt to open, discharge or move it without advice.

Do I get a certificate?

You receive a consignment record from EXBATT and the receiving facility's documentation for the material, which together show what left the site and where it was treated.

All insightsInsight

Battery disposal and recycling, what an operator must do

5 min readLast reviewed: September 2026

Short answer

End of life industrial batteries are hazardous waste and cannot be discarded with ordinary scrap. An operator needs three things: a record of what left the site, a compliant transport arrangement, and documentation from the receiving recycler proving where the material ended up. EXBATT collects the batteries, transports them under the rules for hazardous cells, and hands them to certified recyclers, returning the disposal record to the customer.

Replacing a battery string is the easy part. Proving where the old one went, to an auditor or an environmental inspector, is what catches operators out. This is the chain, and what has to be documented at each step.

Why it is treated as hazardous waste

A lead acid battery contains lead and sulphuric acid. A lithium battery holds stored energy even at end of life, and a damaged cell can ignite. Both categories are therefore handled as hazardous waste, with rules on packing, labelling, transport and final treatment. An operator who hands batteries to an unlicensed scrap collector keeps the liability even after the material leaves the gate.

The chain, step by step

Collection: the string is isolated, discharged where required, disconnected and packed. Damaged or swollen cells are separated and packed individually. Transport: units are secured upright, terminals insulated, load labelled, and the consignment carried by a vehicle and driver arranged for this material. Record: quantity, type, weight and destination are logged against the site. Handover: the material is delivered to a certified recycler, and the recycler's documentation is returned to the customer for their environmental file.

What your file should contain

For each consignment: date, site, battery type and chemistry, number of units, total weight, the carrier, the receiving facility, and the facility's acceptance or treatment document. Auditors, ISO 14001 assessments and tenders all ask for the same thing, and a complete file turns a compliance question into a two minute answer.

Residual value and buy back

Lead has a market, so end of life lead acid batteries usually carry residual value, which can offset part of the replacement cost. Lithium is less consistent and depends on volume and chemistry. Where the material has value, EXBATT also buys scrap batteries from end users, so the disposal step can reduce the project cost instead of adding to it.

What EXBATT does and does not do

EXBATT owns the collection, transport, documentation and handover chain, and is accountable to the customer for it. EXBATT does not operate a recycling plant. Final treatment is performed by certified recycling facilities, and their documentation is what proves final destination.

Frequently asked

Can I store old batteries on site until replacement day?: For a short period, yes, if they are kept upright, dry, ventilated, with terminals insulated, away from ignition sources and from public access. Swollen or leaking units should be separated and removed first.
Do you collect batteries you did not supply?: Yes. Collection, transport and documentation are offered as a standalone service, independently of who supplied the original system.
What happens to a damaged lithium module?: It is treated as a higher risk consignment: isolated, packed individually in a non conductive container, kept away from other cells, and transported separately. Do not attempt to open, discharge or move it without advice.
Do I get a certificate?: You receive a consignment record from EXBATT and the receiving facility's documentation for the material, which together show what left the site and where it was treated.