One of the questions we are often asked, as the North West’s leading mobile scrap metal merchants, is if lead can be recycled. Well, the simple answer to this is yes! In fact, here at X-Met Metals, we collect lead, along with a wide variety of other scrap. This includes combination boilers and WEEE waste, as well as just metals. So, why is lead such a grey area when we think about scrap and recycling? Well, this is our guide to everything you need to know about lead recycling.
What is lead?
So, what is lead? Well, lead is a heavy metal that is incredibly dense. With a relatively low melting point, lead is also a malleable, soft metal. Lead is a silvery blue colour when fresh, and this turns to a dull grey when tarnished. Lead can be used for a number of purposes including:
- the production of petrol
- car batteries
- paint pigments
- lead solder
- radiation protection
- weights
Lead recycling
Recycling lead is a great option for both yourself, and the environment. Lead is a widely recycled metal, and in fact, more lead is recycled annually, than the amount of new lead that is mined in the same year. This is because recycled lead is no different from newly-sourced metal. It retains its high quality, and is a metal that can often be reused without limits.
In addition, identifying lead based products is easy and straight forward, making the recycling of it easy too. Especially when you get in touch with a team like ours, here at X Met Metals. In fact, we will even collect your lead, weigh it, and pay you for it on the spot. It couldn’t be any easier.
Furthermore, lead is also in high demand. And as a result, there has been growth of a healthy lead recycling, throughout the UK, over recent years.
Car batteries
One of the most common sources of lead is car batteries, with around 85% of the lead currently in use today, found in batteries (often lead-acid batteries). All of this lead can easily be recovered, and then recycled and put to good use for new products.
Car batteries are one of the leading causes of lead being leaked into the environment, when these are disposed of incorrectly and illegally. This pollution can be toxic to local wildlife and the environment, and that’s why there are such stringent regulations in place, when disposing of any car batteries.
Here at X-Met metals, we have the resources and the connections to collect and pay for your scrap car batteries, and then recycle these legally and responsibly.
The price of lead
So, how much money will you get back from your lead? Well, the answer is unpredictable, as the price of lead can fluctuate day by day. Occasionally, this shift is fairly significant, and it depends on a variety of factors. These factors can include:
- locality
- international trade
- local demand
For more information about recycling your lead, or to arrange a convenient collection at a time and place that suits you, get in touch with the professionals today, here at X-Met Metals.