valve regulated lead acid battery Rising lead recycling costs may prompt cutbacks

LONDON (Reuters )-
According to industry experts, the leading recycling industry in the United States will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to comply with the tightening environmental rules, but the pressure on rising costs may eventually force some production cuts or closures.
Some companies in the United StatesS.
Especially those who are not healthy.
With the launch of new domestic lead smelters capacity, the established collection system for old batteries may exist for a long time, which increases competition for already limited feed pools.
"I think this is inevitable and it will become unsustainable.
You can't just go ahead with this trend of higher costs for producing secondary lead, chasing a stronger smelting capacity for this scrap, "said Neil Hawkes of CRU Group, an industrial consultant.
"At some point something has to be given, and the wisdom is that it will be a smelter somewhere. ”The U. S.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized the air toxic substances standard for its secondary lead smelter, which will take effect on January 2014.
Chinese authorities hit lead last year
The acid battery factory after the lead poisoning incident clearly reminded people of the danger of exposure to metals. U. S.
Lead recyclers who produce this metal mainly by broken old batteries acknowledge that domestic environmental regulations will tighten further.
Under the Clean Air Act, EPA must conduct a technical review every eight years, and the deadline for the next review is early January 2020.
Analysts say that with the start of new capacity, the competition for used batteries in the United States will inevitably become more intense, especially if the export of used batteries is still high and exported to Mexico, whereU. S.
Auto supplier Johnson Controls is building a new smelter in Florence, South Carolina.
Mike Carr, vice president and general manager of Johnson Control in charge of leading the Americas, said that the 100,000 tons (tpy) plant per year will be launched around June.
Prior to that, Gopher Resources expanded to replace a 26,500-ton annual Short plant in Tampa, Florida with a new 150,000-pound plant.
Johnson Controls estimates that the lead recycling industry in North America will spend nearly $0. 6 billion to meet new environmental standards.
The company alone spent $0. 162 billion to upgrade its recycling facilities throughout the region.
"The cost is not high yet, but it is important that there may be some turbulence in the industry.
I just don't know what this is going to be, "said Alex molinali, president of Johnson control power solutions. All U. S.
The second-level lead smelters are pushing ahead with the upgrade and seem determined to comply with the new regulations.
"We expect them to comply," the U. S.
EPA told Reuters in an email.
The producers who responded agreed.
"Our senior management is committed to continuing to operate our secondary smelters and has approved the expected costs," said Steve Arnold, general manager of the Energy Department Run Buick Resource recovery unit . ".
The Buick plant produces about 145,000 tons of lead twice a year.
At the same time, compliance costs are providing support to consumers.
Johnson Controls, citing investments needed to increase environmental, health and safety standards, announced a 8% increase in lead prices
Acid batteries sold in the United StatesS.
Order Canada from May 1.
John O, chief operating officer, Gopher resources.
Tapper said: "Consumers in this country want responsible environmental services companies like us to do business in this country and create high-paying jobs.
1 produced in the United States.
According to the International Lead and Zinc Research Group (ILZSG), there were 0. 296 billion tons of refined lead last year, of which about 90% were minor.
Global output of refined lead exceeded 10 last year.
0 million tons.