Question

The American car battery industry boasts that its recycling rate now exceeds 95%, the highest rate for any commodity. However, with changes brought about by specialization and globalization, parts of the recycling system are moving offshore. This is particularly true of automobile batteries, which contain lead. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is contributing to the offshore flow with newly implemented standards that make domestic battery recycling increasingly difficult and expensive. The result is a major increase in used batteries going to Mexico, where environmental standards and control are less demanding than they are in the U.S. One in five batteries is now exported to Mexico. There is seldom difficulty finding buyers because lead is expensive and in worldwide demand. While U.S. recyclers operate in sealed, mechanized plants, with smokestacks equipped with scrubbers and plant surroundings monitored for traces of lead, this is not the case in most Mexican plants. The harm from lead is legendary

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

The question is incomplete. There are parts of the question missing. Indeed, there is no question posted, it is just a statement.

However, we can do research and comment on the following.

We are facing two scenarios here. Both, ethical dilemmas that need to be solved.

1) as an independent auto repair shop owner that tries to safely dispose of a few old batteries each week. (Your battery supplier is an auto parts supplier who refuses to take your old batteries.)

In this case, I would check the original agreement with the supplier to see if there is a clause on old batteries management. If not, I would ask it to help me solve this issue because I am his client and has to take care of me and the environment. Otherwise, I would have to contemplate the option of changing supplier.  

2) I am the manager of a large retailer responsible for the disposal of thousands of used batteries each day.

In this other case, I would follow the Environmental Department rules and regulations to comply with the correct procedures. This means to ask for support and orientation to get all the revisions to work properly. Because I know all the consequences of not recycling correctly or the damage done to humans and the environment. So although it could be more money, and would modernize my equipment to better manage the disposal of batteries. It would be an investment, not an expense.