EcoScrap.ca offers car battery recycling for auto repair shops, tire shops, dealerships, fleets and private owners across the GTA and anywhere within 200 km of Toronto. We buy used and scrap lead-acid car and truck batteries, pick them up free, load them ourselves and pay cash on the spot (or e-Transfer if you prefer). Call (647) 915-5440 for today’s price.

Lead-acid batteries are one of the most recycled products around — see how a lead–acid battery works, and read about Ontario’s approach to waste management.

A dead battery is not garbage. Every lead-acid battery is a small block of recoverable lead, plastic and acid, and almost all of it can be reclaimed and made into new batteries. That is why scrap batteries have value, why they are among the most recycled products in North America, and why Ontario municipalities do not want them in your curbside bin.

This page explains, in plain language, how car battery recycling works with EcoScrap: which batteries we buy, how to store them safely until pickup, why they must never go in the trash, what affects the price, and how our free pickup and cash payment process works for shops and individual sellers in Ontario.

What Is Car Battery Recycling and Why Does It Matter?

Car battery recycling is the process of collecting spent lead-acid batteries, breaking them down at a licensed processing facility, and separating the lead, plastic and electrolyte so each material can be reused. The lead plates and grids are smelted and refined into new lead. The polypropylene case is washed, ground and turned into pellets for new battery cases. The sulfuric acid is neutralized or converted into other products.

The result is a near-closed loop. A battery that died in a Mississauga driveway this winter can, after recycling, become part of a brand-new battery sitting on a parts store shelf. Very few consumer products are recovered this completely, which is why the battery trade is such an important part of the wider scrap metal industry in Canada.

For shops and car owners, the practical point is simple: a used battery is worth money, and it is also a hazardous item that needs to be handled properly. Selling it to a scrap buyer who sends it on to proper processing solves both problems at once.

Which Batteries Does EcoScrap Buy?

Our car battery recycling service is built around lead-acid batteries, the standard 12-volt starting batteries found under the hood of almost every gas and diesel vehicle on the road. We regularly pick up:

• Passenger car batteries from sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, crossovers and minivans.
• Light truck and pickup batteries, including larger group sizes used in V8 and diesel trucks.
• Commercial and heavy-duty truck batteries from fleets, delivery vans, tow trucks and transport trucks.
• AGM (absorbed glass mat) and EFB batteries used in vehicles with start-stop systems.
• Flooded (wet cell) batteries with removable or sealed caps.
• Equipment and specialty lead-acid batteries — lawn tractors, golf carts, boats, RVs, generators and small industrial equipment.
• The 12-volt auxiliary battery from hybrids and EVs, which is usually a conventional lead-acid or AGM unit.
• Bulk lots from mechanic shops, tire shops, dealerships’ service departments, fleet garages and auto recyclers.

Not sure what you have? Read the label to us over the phone or send a photo, and we will tell you whether it fits our car battery recycling program. Most shops also have other scrap on site, so we often take batteries together with rotors, rims, converters and mixed metal on the same trip. See our used and scrap car parts page and our scrap metal pickup service for the full list.

What about EV and hybrid lithium battery packs?

Electric and hybrid vehicles use large high-voltage traction packs, usually lithium-ion or, in older hybrids, nickel-metal hydride. These packs are a very different product from a 12-volt lead-acid battery, with their own handling and transport rules. Please call to ask before setting one aside for us. Call (647) 915-5440, tell us the vehicle and the type of pack, and we will let you know what options are available.

Never try to open, cut or disassemble a high-voltage pack yourself. If a lithium pack is damaged, swollen, hot or smells unusual, keep people away from it and contact your local fire service or a qualified EV technician first.

Why Car Batteries Must Never Go in the Garbage

Ontario municipalities do not accept car batteries in curbside garbage, and for good reason. A typical lead-acid battery contains lead, a toxic heavy metal, and sulfuric acid, a strong corrosive. In a garbage truck or landfill, a battery can be crushed, leak acid and release lead into soil and groundwater.

• Lead contamination: lead does not break down. Once it leaches out of a landfill it can stay in the environment for generations.
• Acid burns and fires: crushed batteries can leak acid, and shorted terminals can spark or heat up inside a garbage truck.
• Lost resources: a battery in a landfill is lead and plastic that could have been recycled into a new battery.
• Rules and fines: businesses in particular are expected to send hazardous waste to proper recycling or disposal streams, not general waste bins.

Ontario’s waste policy aims to keep valuable materials out of landfill and back in the economy. Proper car battery recycling is one of the easiest ways for a shop or household to do that, and with EcoScrap you are paid for it instead of paying a disposal fee.

If you only have one battery and live near a municipal household hazardous waste depot or a retailer that takes returns, those are also responsible options. If you have several batteries, a shop full of them, or other scrap to clear at the same time, our free pickup is usually the faster route.

How to Store Scrap Car Batteries Safely Until Pickup

Good storage protects your staff, your floor and the value of the batteries. Shops that store scrap batteries properly also make pickup faster and safer for everyone. Follow these simple rules:

1. Keep every battery upright. Store batteries with the terminals facing up so acid cannot leak out of vents or caps.
2. Tape or cap the terminals. Put electrical tape or plastic caps over both posts so a loose wrench or another battery cannot short them.
3. Set aside cracked or leaking cases. Place any battery with a cracked case or wet residue in a leak-proof plastic tub, and tell us about it when you call.
4. Use a pallet or a plastic tray. Keep batteries off bare concrete and contained so any drip stays in one place.
5. Separate layers. If you must stack, put a sheet of cardboard or plywood between layers and keep stacks low and stable.
6. Store under cover. A dry, ventilated spot away from heat, sparks, open flames and floor drains is ideal.
7. Keep them away from customers and kids. A back corner of the bay or a locked cage is better than the parking lot.

Do not drain acid from batteries, and do not mix batteries into a scrap metal bin with rotors and steel. Batteries are their own category in any car battery recycling stream, and a crushed battery in a metal bin creates a mess for everyone.

What if a battery is cracked or leaking?

Wear gloves and eye protection, keep it upright, and place it in a leak-proof plastic container. Baking soda can help neutralize small acid spills on the floor. Then call (647) 915-5440 and let us know how many damaged units you have so we can plan pickup properly. We would rather know in advance than find a surprise on the day.

How Car Battery Recycling with EcoScrap Works

Selling scrap batteries to EcoScrap takes one phone call. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Call for a quote. Call (647) 915-5440 and tell us roughly how many batteries you have, the main sizes (car, truck, commercial) and your address.
2. Get today’s price. We quote based on the current market for scrap lead-acid batteries and the volume you have. Prices change, so we quote on the day you call.
3. Book your pickup. We schedule a time that works for you. Same-day or next-day pickup is often available across the GTA.
4. We come to you and load. Our driver arrives, checks the batteries, and loads them ourselves. You do not need a forklift or a truck.
5. Show ID and get paid. We check valid government photo ID and pay cash on the spot, or by e-Transfer if you prefer.
6. Responsible processing. Your batteries go on to proper car battery recycling, not a landfill.

Shops that generate batteries every week can set up a regular schedule, so a full pallet is collected before it becomes a storage problem. Our scrap program for mechanic, tire and muffler shops explains how recurring pickups work, and the mechanic shop scrap pickup and tire shop scrap pickup pages cover each type of shop in more detail.

What Is My Scrap Car Battery Worth?

Scrap batteries are priced mainly on the lead inside them, so value follows the lead market and the weight of each battery. We do not publish fixed prices because the market moves, but these are the main factors that affect what you are paid:

• Lead market price: scrap battery prices follow global lead prices, which change regularly.
• Battery size and weight: a heavy commercial truck battery contains much more lead than a small car battery.
• Quantity: a pallet of 40 batteries is more efficient to collect than a single unit, which is reflected in the quote.
• Condition: intact cases with no leaks are easiest to handle. Cracked or leaking units may be priced lower.
• Type: standard flooded and AGM lead-acid batteries are what most buyers want. Other chemistries are handled differently.
• What else is on the truck: combining batteries with other scrap such as rims, rotors and copper makes the trip more efficient.

The table below gives typical weight ranges for common lead-acid batteries. It is a general guide only — actual weights vary by brand and model, and it is not a price quote. For today’s price, call (647) 915-5440.

Battery type	Typical use	Approx. weight (varies)	Lead content
Small car battery	Compact cars, hatchbacks	About 12–16 kg	Lower
Standard car / SUV battery	Sedans, crossovers, minivans	About 16–23 kg	Medium
AGM / start-stop battery	Newer cars with start-stop	About 18–28 kg	Medium to higher
Light truck battery	Pickups, vans, large SUVs	About 20–30 kg	Higher
Heavy-duty commercial battery	Transport trucks, buses, equipment	About 30–60+ kg	Highest
Small equipment battery	Lawn tractors, powersports	About 3–10 kg	Low

As a rough rule, lead makes up the largest share of a lead-acid battery’s weight, with acid electrolyte and the plastic case making up most of the rest. That is why weight is the best quick indicator of value in any car battery recycling quote.

What Happens to a Battery After Car Battery Recycling Pickup?

Once we collect your batteries, they move through the scrap supply chain to a battery processing facility. The steps there are well established and have been refined over decades:

1. Breaking: batteries are fed into a hammer mill or breaker that cracks the cases open.
2. Separation: the broken pieces go into a tank where heavy lead components sink and lighter plastic floats.
3. Lead recovery: lead grids, posts and lead paste are smelted and refined, then cast into ingots for new batteries and other products.
4. Plastic recovery: polypropylene case fragments are washed, melted and turned into pellets for new battery cases.
5. Acid treatment: the electrolyte is neutralized and cleaned, or converted into compounds such as sodium sulfate.

Because lead can be recycled again and again without losing quality, the lead in your scrap battery may already have been through several batteries before. Car battery recycling keeps that loop going and reduces the need for new mining.

Signs a Car Battery Is Ready for Recycling

Not every weak battery is finished — sometimes it only needs a charge. But in a shop setting, these are common signs a battery should be replaced and set aside for recycling:

• It fails a load or conductance test even after a full charge.
• The case is bulging, cracked or leaking.
• Terminals are badly corroded or a post is damaged.
• The battery is several years old and the vehicle struggles to start in cold weather.
• A warning light, slow cranking or a no-start keeps coming back after charging.

Ontario winters are hard on batteries. Cold weather reduces cranking power, so many weak batteries finally fail between November and February. That is when tire shops and mechanics in the GTA see their battery piles grow fastest, and when a quick pickup call saves the most floor space.

Once a battery is condemned, label it, store it upright with taped terminals, and add it to your scrap pallet. When the pallet is full, it is time to call for car battery recycling pickup.

Who We Buy Scrap Car Batteries From

Our car battery recycling program is designed for businesses that replace batteries every day, but we are happy to help individual owners too. We buy from:

• Mechanic and auto repair shops that replace batteries as part of regular service.
• Tire shops, especially during the fall and winter changeover rush when batteries fail in the cold.
• Dealerships’ service departments handling warranty and maintenance replacements.
• Fleet operators — delivery companies, contractors, taxi and rideshare fleets, municipal and private fleets.
• Muffler, exhaust and body shops that collect batteries from damaged or written-off vehicles.
• Towing and roadside service companies that swap batteries on the road.
• Private car owners with a few old batteries in the garage or a whole junk car to sell.

If you have a vehicle that is beyond repair, we can take the whole car including its battery. See cash for junk cars and our guide on how to sell a junk car in Ontario.

Scrap Car Batteries Toronto: Where We Pick Up

We offer free car battery recycling pickup anywhere within 200 km of Toronto. That covers the whole GTA and Golden Horseshoe, including Peel, York, Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo Region and Simcoe County. If you are searching for a buyer for scrap car batteries in Toronto, you can call us from any of these communities:

• Toronto: Toronto, Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.
• Peel and Halton: Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, plus Caledon, Bolton, Georgetown and Halton Hills.
• York Region: Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Aurora, plus King City and Stouffville.
• Durham: Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa, plus Bowmanville, Clarington and Uxbridge.
• Hamilton and Niagara: Hamilton, St. Catharines, plus Stoney Creek, Grimsby, Niagara Falls and Welland.
• Waterloo Region and southwest: Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, London, plus Waterloo, Woodstock and Stratford.
• North and east: Barrie, Peterborough, plus Bradford, Innisfil, Orillia, Collingwood, Port Hope, Cobourg and Lindsay.

Not on the list? If you are within roughly 200 km of Toronto, call and ask. Our free scrap pickup within 200 km of Toronto guide explains how we plan routes and what to expect on pickup day.

Sell Used Car Batteries Ontario: Why Shops Choose EcoScrap

There are many places to drop off a battery. What makes EcoScrap different is that we come to you, handle the heavy lifting, and pay you on the spot. If you want to sell used car batteries in Ontario without loading a truck or waiting at a scale, here is what you get:

• Free pickup within 200 km of Toronto. No drop-off trips, no fuel costs, no lost shop time.
• We load it ourselves. Our driver handles the batteries, so your techs stay on paying work.
• Cash on the spot. Or e-Transfer, if your business prefers a paper trail.
• One trip, all your scrap. Batteries, catalytic converters, alloy rims and wheels, brake rotors and drums, copper and brass and mixed metal.
• Clear, honest quotes. We explain what drives the price and quote on today’s market.
• Responsible buying. We check ID, record transactions where required and do not buy stolen property.

For a busy shop, the real value of good car battery recycling is not just the cheque. It is the floor space you get back, the reduced risk of acid spills and the time your staff no longer spend hauling batteries to a depot.

Tips to Get More Money for Your Scrap Batteries

A few simple habits can raise what you are paid and make every pickup smoother:

1. Save up a load. A pallet of batteries is more efficient to collect than one or two at a time. Shops often book when a pallet is full.
2. Keep cases intact. Store batteries upright and protected so cases do not crack. Intact batteries are easier to handle and price.
3. Do not drain or open batteries. Draining acid is dangerous, and a tampered battery is harder to process.
4. Combine with other scrap. Add rims, rotors, converters, radiators and copper to the same pickup. Our scrap rim prices guide and catalytic converter scrap value guide explain how those items are priced.
5. Give an accurate count. Tell us roughly how many car, truck and commercial batteries you have so we send the right vehicle.
6. Call when you are ready. Because prices follow the lead market, the quote you get on the day you call is the best guide.

Car Battery Recycling for Shops vs Private Owners

Shops and private sellers both benefit from car battery recycling, but their needs are a little different. Here is how we handle each:

	Auto shops & fleets	Private car owners
Typical volume	Pallets of batteries, often monthly or weekly	One to a few batteries
Pickup	Scheduled or on-call pickups	Booked pickup, often combined with other scrap or a junk car
Payment	Cash on the spot or e-Transfer	Cash on the spot or e-Transfer
Paperwork	Valid photo ID; records kept for your business	Valid photo ID
Best tip	Keep a dedicated pallet and call when it is full	Bundle batteries with other scrap metal or car parts

If you are a homeowner with a single battery, call (647) 915-5440 anyway. We will tell you honestly whether a pickup makes sense on its own, or whether bundling it with other scrap will get you a better result.

Is Car Battery Recycling Safe and Legal in Ontario?

Yes, when it is done properly. Lead-acid batteries are a normal part of the scrap trade, and recycling them is the outcome Ontario’s waste policies encourage. What matters is that batteries are handled safely, transported upright with protected terminals, and sent to proper processing.

As a legitimate buyer, we ask every seller for valid government-issued photo ID, and we record transactions where required. We do not buy stolen batteries or parts. This information is general and is not legal advice — if you run a business with specific environmental obligations, check the current Ontario rules that apply to you.

Other Scrap We Can Take on the Same Trip

Batteries are rarely the only scrap at a shop. While we are on site, we can also buy:

• Catalytic converters — OEM, aftermarket and diesel units.
• Aluminum alloy, steel and chrome rims.
• Cast iron brake rotors and drums.
• Copper wire, copper pipe and yellow brass.
• Engines, transmissions, alternators, starters, radiators and AC condensers.
• Mixed scrap metal, exhaust pipes and mufflers.

Learn more about the company on our about page, see everything we buy on our services page, or reach us through the contact page.

Car Battery Recycling FAQs

Ready to clear out your old batteries? Call (647) 915-5440 for car battery recycling with free pickup within 200 km of Toronto and cash on the spot.