www.ila-lead.org

Lead Recycling: A Sustainability

Success Story

Dr Alistair Davidson

International Lead Association

www.ila-lead.org

Introduction

• Overview of secondary lead production

• Lead-the most recycled metal

• Data collection

• How does recycling contribute to sustainability?

• Conclusions

www.ila-lead.org

Lead Production

Source: ILZSG

0.0

2,000.0

4,000.0

6,000.0

8,000.0

10,000.0

12,000.0

2012201020082006200420022000199819961994199219901988198619841982198019781976197419721970

Pro

du

cti

on

('0

00

to

nn

es

)

Year

Secondary LeadProduction

Primary LeadProduction

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Secondary Lead Production

Rates are secondary production as a proportion of total production 1ILZSG

82%

62%

40%

21%

No data

World 55%

One of only three metals to have a rate of >50% from secondary production

(others are Nb and Ru)1.

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• Lead is without doubt the most recycled metal of all those

commonly used.

– A 2011 UNEP status report stated that lead has the highest

recycling and reuse rates compared to all other.

– Whole lead industry >75%1

• Higher recycling rates than many non-metals

– Glass 70%2

– Paper 70%3

• Lead can be, and is, recycled over and over again.

Lead Recycling

Source: 1ILZSG 2FEVE 3Confederation of Paper Industries

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Recycling rates for Metals

EoL recycling rate

for metals

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• End of life recycling rates:

– Metal recycled (EOL)/ metal available for recycling (EOL).

– The EOL rate indicates the efficiency of recycling of EOL scrap.

– ILA involved with Eurometaux in development of recycling

indicators.

• Recycling rates for lead applications

– Whole lead industry ca. 75%1

– Lead acid batteries >95%2

– Lead sheet >95%3

Lead Recycling

Source 1ILZSG 2Franhoufer Institute 3ELISA

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Data Collection

• Data extremely important!

– Lead Industry has some data, but not sufficient for robust

calculations.

– ILA will be working on a number of future projects:

• ELV Closed Loop Battery Recycling.

• ILZSG industry wide recycling rates.

• Good quality data ensure robust recycling rates

• Communication tool highlighting lead recycling rates.

• Use in regulatory affairs e.g. ELV, REACH.

www.ila-lead.org

End Uses of Lead

Source: ILZSG

0.0

2,000.0

4,000.0

6,000.0

8,000.0

10,000.0

12,000.0

196

0

196

3

196

6

196

9

197

2

197

5

197

8

198

1

198

4

198

7

199

0

199

3

199

6

199

9

200

2

200

6

200

9

201

2

Lead

Use (

'000 t

on

nes)

Year

Batteries

Cable Sheathing

Rolled and Extruded Products

Shot/Ammunition

Alloys

Pigments and OtherCompounds

Gasoline Additives

Miscellaneous

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Battery Recycling

• Recycling of batteries extremely high

– The Battery Council International have recently

reported a 98% recycling rate in USA.

– ILZSG estimate global rate of close to 100%.

– Fraunhofer Institute report European value of >95%

• Efficient and extensive infrastructure exists in most

countries for the collection and recycling of used lead acid

batteries.

• Lead acid battery has simple chemistry which makes

batteries easier to recycle compared to other technologies

such as Li based batteries.

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Lead Sheet Recycling

• 100% of lead sheet is manufactured

from recycled material

• Over 95% of lead sheet is collected and

recycled and lead sheet can be used

repeatedly without loss of performance.

• Efficient and extensive infrastructure exists

in most countries for the collection and

recycling

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How does recycling contribute to sustainability?

• Resource Availability

– No degradation in quality - can be recycled again and again.

– ILA conducted Resource Availability study as part of ELV roadmap:

• For lead/ lead acid batteries no resource availability issues.

• For other metals/ battery technologies anticipated future

challenges.

– Proven reserves of lead ca. 90 million tonnes.

– Lead mined as a co-product.

• Low Environmental Impact

– Life Cycle Analysis assess environmental impacts associated with

all the stages of a product's life from -cradle-to-grave.

– Recycling has large impact on LCA data.

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• Mining and concentration, and smelting are the biggest

contributors to the total environmental total impact of lead

production

• Secondary production thus has lower environmental impact that

primary production.

• Low energy associated with lead recycling

• Because of lead’s low melting point the process of recycling is

very energy efficient, requiring approximately one-third of the

energy involved in winning lead from its ore.

• Low carbon footprint.

How does recycling contribute to sustainability?

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LCA Studies

• ILA completed LCA for Primary and Secondary Lead Production

• Previous LCA data out of date and not representative for Pb

industry.

• ILA ensuring new data entered into LCA databases.

• Will be used for product LCAs.

• ILA currently involved in EU LCA Projects for:

• Lead Batteries.

• Lead Sheet.

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• Argonne National Laboratory (USA) performed a review of LCA of

materials used in different battery technologies in 2010.

• Compared LCA data from:

• Pb, Ni, Li, and Na based batteries.

• Lead Acid had:

• Lowest production energy

• Lowest CO2 emissions

• Lowest emissions of PM, NOx, SOx and VOCs

LCA Studies

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LCA Data

Average Cradle to gate energy associated with each battery

technology

Source: ANL (2010)

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Average Cradle to Gate CO2 emissions associated with each battery

technology

Source: ANL (2010)

LCA Data

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• Cost-Effective

• Recycled lead is cheaper to produce than virgin lead.

• Reduces strain on landfills

• Keeping lead out of landfills reduces investment in

environmental controls.

• Benefits human health

• A high recycling rate means that there is less opportunity for

lead to end up in waste streams where it may pose a health risk.

How does recycling contribute to sustainability?

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Conclusions

• Recycling of Lead has environmental, economic and social

value.

• Lead has highest recycling rate of any high volume material.

• Lead Recycling had a positive contribution to sustainable

development.

• Better data needed to calculate robust recycling rates.

• Other challengers remain

– Recycling in some developing countries and regions in

transition.