2019 Recycling Industry Yearbook

ISRI.ORG 29 LEAD AND ZINC Although lead has been used for centuries as a building material and to produce ceramic glazes, leaded glass and crystal, paint, and other protective coatings, lead’s use in battery technology is what solidified its importance in the modern age. U.S. secondary lead smelting grew out of the recycling of automotive and similar lead-acid batteries. More than 85% of the U.S. lead supply is used in lead-acid batteries, but other uses include rolled and extruded products, ammunition, alloys, pigments, and cable sheathing. Zinc is mostly used for galvanizing—protecting other metals from corrosion—and creating alloys such as brass and bronze. Its low melting point makes it useful for die-casting and for rolling applications where more durable dies would be too expensive. Zinc also gets compounded with rubber, chemical salts, paint, and agricultural products. U.S. AND EXPORT MARKETS The United States recycled 1.3 million mt of secondary lead scrap in 2018, a 30% increase over 2017. Of the 1.8 million mt of apparent lead used in U.S. manufacturing last year, 71% came from scrap, nearly all of which was postconsumer scrap. Global lead prices fell in 2018, with the London Metal Exchange three-month average for the year 4% below 2017. From January to December, that price fell 23%. Zinc scrap recycled in the United States increased 7.4% from 2017 to 2018, to 72,000 mt. About 25% of the refined zinc produced in the United States in 2018 was from recycled material. LME three-month average zinc prices fell 6% from 2017 to 2018. The two metals’ export performance differed. Lead scrap exports decreased 12 percent from 2017 to 2018, to 49,000 mt, while zinc scrap exports grew 18%, to 40,000. Lead-acid batteries have a nearly 100% recycling rate in North America and Europe. 100% of U.S. lead production and 74% of Europe- an lead production comes from recycled material, according to the International Lead Association. Worldwide, more than 80% of the zinc available for recycling is eventually recycled, according to the Bureau of International Recycling. 30% of the world’s supply of zinc comes from re- cycled material, according to the International Zinc Association. FPO Lead-acid batteries have a nearly 100%recycling rate in North America and Europe. Lead-acid batteries have a nearly 100%recycling rate in North America and Europe. 100% of U.S. lead production and 74% of European lead production come from recycled aterial. Sources: International Lead Association, Association of Battery Recyclers