Truck batteries, like car batteries, have a casing of hard plastic molded into a rectangular box shape. There are two terminals on top of the casing. One of the terminals is positive while the other is negative. Inside, the liquid component is sulfuric acid. The acid is then burned by the battery to produce electric current. A battery also contains various metals including lead.
As you can see from the components of the battery listed above, disposal of the battery is not to be taken lightly. A battery is highly recyclable. On average, 96% of lead content of the battery is recycled. The hard plastic casing is also recycled. Most battery dealers will take your old battery for recycling. Some will even give a discount on the purchase of a new battery if the old one is turned over to them. Since a battery is a dangerous contaminant to the environment if not disposed of properly, you must follow disposal guidelines to safeguard your surroundings.
In the United States, studies show that 20% of all households store at least one automotive battery in the garage. Translated into plain figures, the amount is a staggering 40 million batteries improperly stored in different households all over the country.
Because of the sulfuric acid content, any leak of the liquid is considered to be highly flammable. To stop the leak, spread calcium carbonate over the leaking area and saturate it with water. Sulfuric acid will burn through skin. If it comes into contact with you, immediately wash the area on your skin with water. If the burning continues, have your doctor take a look at it. Never turn over batteries to the sides or up-side down. This may cause the acid to leak. Always keep the topside of the battery facing upwards. Avoid using metals or un-insulated tools when dealing with a battery. Stored electricity may produce sparks that can cause a fire to start.
When handling batteries, it would be safer to wear gloves before touching any part of the battery. As the battery produces and stores electricity, a simple mistake could send a shock through you.
Finally, there are plenty of battery types to choose from. The best way to select a battery would be to consult your car dealer or previous owner to find out what type of battery they would normally use. Also, you can surf the internet message boards or blog sites to get an idea of other people's experiences with batteries.
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