Allan Gerlat, News Editor

December 9, 2011

1 Min Read
United States Should Stop Exporting Lead Batteries to Mexico for Recycling, Says Report

U.S. companies should stop exports of used lead batteries to Mexico because it is contributing to lead poisoning near recycling facilities there, according to the co-author of a new report.

Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of the environmental organization Occupational Knowledge International (OK International), co-authored an investigation that found American exports of used batteries to Mexico more than doubled last year following the adoption of new lead air standards in the United States, according to an OK International news release.

He urged private companies and government agencies to voluntarily halt lead battery exports to Mexico and any other country with environmental and occupational standards that are inferior to U.S. laws governing battery recycling operations.

"Our investigation revealed that used car batteries from the U.S. are contributing to higher lead emissions in Mexico due to shoddy recycling practices," he said. "There are blatant deficiencies in regulations and environmental protections in the Mexican recycling industry compared to U.S. standards."

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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