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East Penn Canada Blog

East Penn Canada

At East Penn Canada we are committed to being green leaders in the lead battery industry while making conservation and waste reduction a priority. Our industry relies on a voluntary closed-loop system to minimize waste at every step of the manufacturing, collection and recycling process. The sustainability of this circular economy approach ensures resources remain in use for as long as possible to efficiently recycle and reuse all major components of a lead battery in the production of new products. It’s quite remarkable that more than 99% of used batteries are recycled and the lead can be recycled infinitely in the production of batteries, with no negative impact to performance. 

Not only does the circular economy reduce waste but it also optimizes the production cycle time. With only a 30-40 day requirement for used batteries to be recovered and re-manufactured into new batteries, the system is a successful and certainly efficient, closed-loop process.

The model below demonstrates the success and sustainability of the circular economy system.

 – A new lead battery is comprised of over 80% recycled material. The re-manufacturing of battery components, coupled with the high recycling rate of batteries, greatly reduces the mining of virgin materials.

 – Leveraging a steady supply of recycled lead battery components, battery manufacturers use safe, sustainable practices to make innovative new batteries.

 – Lead batteries are used in multiple applications including transportation, industrial, medical, data and telecom, renewable energy, military and more. Nearly every hybrid and electric vehicle uses a lead battery.

 – A nationwide infrastructure, high recycling awareness, customer pay-back programs and reverse distribution models ensures both consumers and industries return used batteries

 – Modern, closed-loop recycling keeps millions of lead batteries from Ontario landfills each year. Responsible members of the CBA (Canadian Battery Association) leverage best practices to ensure safe and responsible collection, storage, transport and processing of spent batteries.

In 2020, East Penn Canada in partnership with Terrapure Environmental, received a prestigious Environment + Energy Leader Award for Project of the Year for our closed-loop, circular economy approach to lead battery recycling.

Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t end with lead batteries as East Penn Canada also prioritizes the responsible management of industrial wastewater. Battery washes result in wastewater that is collected at customer sites by East Penn Canada and then we work with our third-party partners to pick up the wastewater, treat it for the removal of contaminants and manage the safe disposal of it. 

Our goal for the future is to continue to support the global shift to a greener future.East Penn Canada is a proud member of the Canadian Battery Association, a group of like-minded manufacturers, distributors, recyclers and dealers who inform, advocate and support the responsible management of lead batteries nationally.

We are proud to be part of an industry that keeps this initiative at the forefront of all they do from manufacturing, distribution, right through to recycling. East Penn Canada’s commitment to a circular economy approach, based on robust sustainability principles, is who we are and will continue to remain a priority as we move forward in our dedication to building a greener future.

At East Penn Canada we are committed to being green leaders in the lead battery industry while making conservation and waste reduction a priority. Our industry relies on a voluntary closed-loop system to minimize waste at every step of the manufacturing, collection and recycling process. The sustainability of this circular economy approach ensures resources remain in use for as long as possible to efficiently recycle and reuse all major components of a lead battery in the production of new products...

Lead Batteries: The Circular Economy

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