A dead car battery is one of the few things in your shed that’s worth more broken than working. Nobody wants a battery that won’t hold charge, but nearly all of its weight can be recovered: the lead, the acid (neutralised and reused), and the plastic case (reprocessed). That’s why Johnny Metal Recycling pays for batteries in any condition, and why the flat one in the corner of your workshop is worth putting on a trailer.
Below we cover how battery scrap prices in Melbourne are worked out, what each type is worth, and how to handle them safely. For today’s scrap battery price, call JMR on 0449 894 456. Tell us the type and roughly how many you have, and we’ll give you a figure in a couple of minutes.
How battery scrap prices in Melbourne are worked out?
Three things decide what you’re paid, and it’s worth knowing all three before you ring anyone.
Type. A lead-acid truck battery and a box of AA cells are completely different products. Lead-acid is where the weight and the money are.
Weight. Batteries are priced by weight, not per unit. This catches people out — a physically small battery that’s very dense can beat a bigger, lighter one.
The market on the day. Lead is a traded commodity and battery scrap prices in Melbourne move with it. JMR quotes against the market on the day you sell rather than working off a fixed rate.
There’s no single per-kilo number we can publish that would be honest across every battery type, which is why Johnny Metal Recycling sets the battery scrap price on what you actually have. Describe your load on the phone and you’ll get a real figure.
Battery types and what they're worth
Ranked roughly by what they return.
Forklift and industrial batteries
The heaviest batteries JMR buys, and the best battery scrap price on the list. A forklift traction battery is a serious lump of lead and a single unit can be a worthwhile job on its own. If you’re replacing one, ring before it goes anywhere.
Excavator and heavy equipment batteries
Large lead-acid units from plant and machinery. Good weight and a strong battery scrap price, and they come through in pairs and fours from earthmoving and civil operators.
Truck batteries
Commercial vehicle lead-acid. Heavier than car batteries, so the battery scrap price is correspondingly higher. Transport yards and mechanical workshops turning these over regularly are worth setting up a standing collection for.
Car batteries
The most common battery through the yard by a distance. Standard automotive lead-acid, and the benchmark most people mean when they ask about car battery scrap prices in Melbourne. Flat, dead, cracked, five years old — condition doesn’t change what JMR pays, because you’re being paid for the lead inside rather than whether it still turns an engine.
Lithium-ion batteries
Modern electronics, power tools, e-bikes and EV cells. Different chemistry, different recovery — the value here is in lithium and rare metals like cobalt and nickel rather than lead. Handled separately, and the battery scrap price is set separately too. Never put these in a general bin.
Household cells
AA, AAA, rechargeable and button cells. The battery scrap price on these is small individually, but Johnny Metal Recycling takes them and they shouldn’t go in kerbside waste. Worth bringing in with a larger load rather than on their own.
Why are batteries worth real money?
It’s a fair question, because a dead battery feels like rubbish. Here’s what’s actually inside.
Lead, which is among the most recycled materials on earth and goes almost entirely back into new batteries.
Sulphuric acid, which gets neutralised and repurposed rather than dumped.
Lithium and rare metals — cobalt and nickel in particular, which are in growing demand as the EV market expands.
Plastic casings, which get reprocessed into new product.
Practically all of a lead-acid battery is recoverable. That’s unusual, and it’s why they hold value even when they’re completely dead.
Protect Yourself and the Environment When Handling Batteries
This is the part worth reading before you load anything.
Don’t open them. Ever. The acid inside a lead-acid battery is sulphuric and it will destroy clothing, skin and whatever it lands on. JMR is set up to process batteries safely — you’re almost certainly not.
Keep them upright. A battery on its side leaks. A pallet with something under it is all it takes.
Don’t stack them loosely in a ute tray. Terminals touching metal or each other is how you get sparks.
Bring them whole. A cracked or drained battery is worth less, not more, and a leaking one becomes a handling problem that has to be priced in.
Never bin lithium-ion. Damaged or crushed lithium cells are a fire risk in waste trucks and transfer stations. They go to a recycler, not a bin.
If you’ve got a large quantity, a leaking unit or a damaged lithium battery, say so on the phone rather than loading it yourself. Johnny Metal Recycling will sort out the safe way to move it.
Left in the ground, the sulphuric acid, lead and lithium in batteries do real damage to soil and waterways. That’s the whole case for doing this properly rather than quietly putting one in a skip.
Why sell your batteries to Johnny Metal Recycling?
Any type, any condition. Car, truck, forklift, excavator, lithium-ion and household cells. Flat, dead or damaged makes no difference to whether JMR will buy them.
No minimum quantity. One battery or a pallet of them. Johnny Metal Recycling takes both.
Weighed in front of you. Verified digital scales, every load, while you watch — and since batteries are priced by weight, that’s the number that matters.
Live market rates. JMR sets scrap battery prices in Melbourne against the market on the day you sell, so the battery scrap price you’re quoted reflects today rather than last quarter.
Paid the same day. Bank transfer or cheque, no waiting on invoices.
Safe handling. A trained team that transports and processes batteries the way they’re meant to be handled.
Free pickup over 500kg, anywhere in Melbourne, seven days a week with no weekend surcharge. Batteries reach 500kg faster than almost anything else, so this applies more often than people expect.
Over six years, licensed. Johnny Metal Recycling has been buying scrap batteries in Melbourne for more than six years as a licensed buyer operating under Victorian regulations.
Batteries we buy at JMR
Car and passenger vehicle batteries · truck and commercial vehicle batteries · forklift and traction batteries · excavator and heavy equipment batteries · marine and deep-cycle batteries · solar and off-grid storage batteries · lithium-ion cells and packs · power tool batteries · UPS and backup batteries · household AA, AAA, rechargeable and button cells.
Any condition, any quantity, and a battery scrap price quoted on all of it. Full material detail is on our battery scrap Melbourne page, and there’s more on the lead side of things on our lead scrap page.
How JMR weighs and pays
Every load is weighed on site on verified digital scales while you watch, and the type is confirmed with you before a battery scrap price is set.
Payment is same day by bank transfer or cheque. Johnny Metal Recycling doesn’t pay cash — Victoria tightened the rules on cash in the scrap trade back in 2018 and JMR has worked to them since. No deductions afterwards, no hidden fees. The quote is the payment.
Battery recycling Melbourne-wide
Johnny Metal Recycling quotes scrap battery prices in Melbourne from our Braeside yard and collects across the city: the south-east and bayside, the eastern and northern corridors, and out west. Pickup runs seven days a week with no weekend surcharge, usually within one to two business days.
Battery recycling prices are worth checking before you assume a dead battery is worthless, and battery recycling Melbourne-wide is easier than most people expect. Lead-acid recycling is one of the genuine success stories in the trade — the lead goes back into new batteries more or less indefinitely, and keeping the acid and heavy metals out of landfill matters more than the money does.
Get today's scrap battery price!
Want to sell scrap batteries in Melbourne today? Ring Johnny Metal Recycling on 0449 894 456 and tell us what you’ve got: the type, roughly how many, and whether they’re car, truck, forklift or industrial. You’ll have today’s battery scrap price in a couple of minutes.
Or send photos and a rough count through the contact form and JMR will come back with a quote and a collection time.
Why Choose Us?
With over 6 years of experience, we are trusted scrap car buyers in Melbourne, offering competitive cash for old cars Melbourne residents rely on. Our team specialises in car removal and car recycling Melbourne, ensuring unwanted and scrap vehicles are removed safely and recycled responsibly to support a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Competitive Prices
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Turn your aluminium scrap into cash quickly and easily, helping both you and the planet.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the current battery scrap prices in Melbourne?
Batteries are priced on type and weight against the lead market on the day, so JMR quotes per load rather than publishing a fixed rate. Call 0449 894 456, describe what you’ve got, and you’ll have today’s figure in a couple of minutes.
What are car battery scrap prices based on?
Weight and the current lead market, not condition. A flat or dead car battery is worth the same as one that still works, because you’re being paid for the lead inside it.
What is the lead acid battery scrap price in Melbourne?
It tracks the lead market and varies by battery size. Forklift and truck batteries return the most because they’re the heaviest; car batteries are the benchmark most people ask about. Ring JMR for a current figure.
Do you buy dead or damaged batteries?
Yes. Flat, dead, cracked, old — any condition. A leaking battery should be mentioned on the phone first so it can be handled safely, but JMR still buys it.
Is there a minimum quantity to sell scrap batteries in Melbourne?
Do you take lithium-ion batteries?
Yes, and they should never go in a general waste bin — damaged lithium cells are a fire risk in waste trucks and transfer stations. They’re handled and priced separately from lead-acid.
Can I remove the acid myself first?
No, and please don’t try. Sulphuric acid is dangerous to handle and a drained battery is worth less, not more. Bring them whole and upright.
How and when does JMR pay?
Bank transfer or cheque, the same day we collect or you drop off. Johnny Metal Recycling doesn’t pay cash, in line with the Victorian rules introduced in 2018.