Proper disposal of battery acid

[Lee Chambers]

Last week I changed out the battery in my car and stored the old one in my trunk until I could get time to take it to the store to recycle it. Bad mistake. The battery ended up tipping over in my trunk and spilling acid. Most of it was absorbed by a pair of heavy welding gloves (who will be sorely miss) but I've still got some that I have to clean up.

Two questions on this matter: One, what is a good way to neutralize the acid that spilled in my trunk, on the gloves and on the paper towels I used to wipe up the excess?

Two, where can I dispose of these things? I don't want to throw them in the trash with everything else. Do they have places you can dispose of acid-tainted items?

 

[rgraham666]

Check out this website.

 

[snowy ciara]

Last week I changed out the battery in my car and stored the old one in my trunk until I could get time to take it to the store to recycle it. Bad mistake. The battery ended up tipping over in my trunk and spilling acid. Most of it was absorbed by a pair of heavy welding gloves (who will be sorely miss) but I've still got some that I have to clean up.

Two questions on this matter: One, what is a good way to neutralize the acid that spilled in my trunk, on the gloves and on the paper towels I used to wipe up the excess?

Two, where can I dispose of these things? I don't want to throw them in the trash with everything else. Do they have places you can dispose of acid-tainted items?

No idea on the first question... But on the second one, some cities have places where you can turn in what they call household hazardous waste (oil, paint, yard and pool chemicals and the like). They might take the stuff. Look in the government pages of your phone book or call whomever does garbage pick-up for your town.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Baking soda should nutralize it just fine.

Once it's nutralized you should just be able to put it in the trash. Maybe double bag it if you want but theres really no need. The battery itself should be brought back to wherever you bought the new one from. Most stores take the old ones for recycle.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Baking soda is amazingly powerful stuff!

 

[Lee Chambers]

Thanks everyone. I threw some water on it to dilute the acid then threw the baking soda, and the baking soda seemed to eat it right up. Now just have to clean it up and do the proper disposal thing. I already exchanged the battery at the store (which is how I knew about the spill in the first place).