Battery Core

Q: When I purchased a new car battery the store added on a $5.00 fee called a core charge. What is a core charge?

A: It is illegal to dispose of a lead acid car battery in your household waste. Car batteries have several pounds of toxic lead and approximately a gallon of sulfuric acid. The $5.00 fee is imposed to encourage you to return the old battery to the retailer so it can be properly disposed and recycled. In most places, retailers that sell car batteries are required to accept old ones. Most new lead acid car batteries incorporate more than 60% of recycled materials.