Was talking cars with my 2 neighbors month ago ... they have a Cooper mini. Somehow my Prius got brought up. Neighbor says 'yeah, the dead hybrid batteries probably just get dumped somewhere.' So, I called Toyota, asked what happens to used up batteries. Said they are sent back to mfr. for 'recycling' IIRC. This morn, mentioned to neighbors, btw, batteries go back to mfr... Lady says, 'yeah, somewhere in China where they throw 'em in a toxic dump'. Man says, 'not much to recycle at the mfr. anyway'. I said, I hope not. Don't know all what happens with 'em. ------------ What gives? What's the truth on spent hybrid batteries?
I wonder how accurate the 1st article below is - http://www.autoevolution.com/news/toyota-prius-battery-recycling-plan-8360.html My Dodge: Hybrid NiMH Battery Recycling Information http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/treehugger_inte.php etc... I have MPD ... ask myself questions and answer
You need new neighbors. Sounds to me as though no matter what evidence you throw at him his mind is made up. So you might as well tell him that you heard they all get shipped to China and thrown into a toxic dump somewhere because there's not much to recycle at the manufacturer. After all, you did and your neighbor sounded quite convincing when he said it so it must be true.
Tell them BMW buys the batteries that no longer meet Toyota's standard for use in the Mini. Say anything with authority enough times and people will believe it.
Let your neighbors know that you take in all worn out money. When they laugh, point out that the toxic waste dumps are suffering from the same problem as your money recycle service. Maybe they will understand, maybe they won't. Toyota guarantees at least a $200 payout for all returned hybrid batteries. They don't do it just so they can pitch it in a toxic waste dump. As previously mentioned, nickel is valuable.
2nd post, 3rd link above is a 2005 interview with a Toyota Marketing Mgr. excerpt - 'Can you tell us more about how life cycle studies, material selection, and recycling questions were managed during the design process? By example I can. Toyota dealers and the nine regional Toyota parts distribution centers collaborate on battery recycling. That kind of networking is something Toyota generaly excels at. When a customer's Prius battery pack needs replacement, the truck that delivered a new one to his dealer returns to the parts center with the spent battery, and any other parts destined for disassembly and reclamation. When enough batteries have accumulated at a parts center to fill a truck, they are shipped to a recycle operation. Not across the sea to Japan I’d hope? No the final recycling steps for batteries are outsourced here in the US. ' --
The NiMH battery IS NOT toxic. It's nickle and potassium hydroxide, neither of which are "toxic", though potassium hydroxide will burn your flesh if splashed on it. So even if the battery DID end up in a land fill it would have little to no effect on the environment. But it wouldn't. Toyota are making great efforts to ensure they are recycled. Ask your neighbors if they have ever thrown out a NiCd battery or an appliance with one in it. Now THOSE ARE toxic. Cadmium is a carcinogen.
