Key Terms

Battery regeneration is a commonly used method to reclaim spent lead-acid batteries. A battery regenerator device sends high-frequency pulses of electric current through a battery. These pulses of electricity shake up and loosen the lead-sulfur deposits that prevent the spent battery from keeping a full charge.

Lead-acid batteries produce electrical energy as a result of a chemical reaction between a battery's lead plates and the electrolyte (a solution of sulfuric acid and water) that it contains. They are widely used in vehicles and for power storage.

Military munitions are ammunition products and components used by the U.S. military for national defense and security.

Precious metals, in the context of the RCRA regulations, refer to the metals (such as gold, silver, and platinum) contained in recyclable materials (such as cell phones, circuit boards, and catalytic converters) that have significant economic value.

Specific wastes are wastes or waste management practices that have unique qualities that single them out for special handling in the RCRA regulations. Specific wastes include recyclable materials that contain precious metals, spent lead-acid batteries, solid waste military munitions, combustible hazardous wastes, hazardous wastes mixed with low-level radioactive material.

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.