On November 15, America Recycles Day recognizes how important recycling is to supporting the economy and protecting our environment. The lead battery industry is doing its part to achieve a cleaner, greener future by modeling a highly sustainable, circular economy.

Contrary to what most people think, newspapers, glass or aluminum cans are not America’s most recycled consumer product. Lead batteries are actually the most recycled consumer product in the U.S., at a rate of more than 99%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Lead batteries are essential to safeguard vital communications, power transportation and logistical networks that fuel our economy. In fact, every U.S. mass-produced car and truck, including every electric vehicle, relies on a lead battery. Lead batteries also support backup power systems in an emergency, and store energy for wind and solar farms.

The Doe Run Company’s Resource Recycling facility is one of the largest single-site lead recycling facilities in the world, making it a vital link in the modern, closed-loop recycling system. Each year, the facility recycles approximately 11.5 million lead batteries and other lead bearing material, playing a key role in keeping lead batteries out of landfills and putting valuable lead metal back to work. In fact, each new lead battery manufactured is comprised of more than 80% recycled material, and the lead from these batteries can be infinitely recycled with no loss of performance.

Read more at the Essential Energy Everyday blog.