Standard Operating Procedure: Recycling Vehicular Lead-Acid Batteries

The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to establish processes for handling and recycling vehic­ular lead-acid batteries through Exide Technologies (see Exhibit A), in accordance with Postal Service™ policies and universal waste-management regulations. This SOP estab­lishes methods for recycling vehicular lead-acid batteries at all Postal Service vehicle maintenance facilities (VMFs). All VMF employees must follow approved procedures to make sure that lead-acid batteries are disposed of and recycled properly.

Universal waste is a subcategory of hazardous waste that is subject to less restrictive environmental regulations, as long it is recycled. Further:

n Federal environmental regulations require that all uni­versal waste be recycled.

n Lead-acid automotive batteries and sealed lead-acid emergency batteries are designated as universal waste.

Exhibit A, Exide Battery

Management and Disposal of Lead-Acid Batteries

The Postal Service has a 3-year contract with Exide Technologies (through April 30, 2015). Each VMF is ser­viced by an Exide branch. (See the contact list on pages 44–45.)

n Exide must receive a pickup order 2 days before the scheduled delivery day.

n When Exide makes a recycling pickup, the company uses the Battery Delivery Document (BDD) to record the number of spent battery cores it picks up.

n Both the Exide driver and the VMF employee must verify how many cores are picked up and sign the BDD. This form serves to (a) document Postal Ser­vice compliance with federal, state, and local regula­tions; and (b) provide a record for billing the contractor.

Never ship damaged batteries! Batteries that are leaking, burned, cracked, melted, or otherwise dam­aged must be handled as hazardous waste.

Contact Information

Exide Branches

Exide Branches — Alpha by State

— Sustainability, Deputy Postmaster General, 9-6-12