That old cart under the carport has to end up somewhere. If you've ever wondered what happens to a junk golf cart after it's hauled away, the answer is better than you might think: most of it gets a second life. Golf cart recycling is a mix of parts harvesting, battery recycling and metal recovery, and each part of the cart takes a different path.
Here's how a typical junk cart gets broken down, and why junk golf cart disposal matters more than it seems.
First stop: rebuild or parts cart?
The first decision happens when the cart arrives. Someone looks over the frame, the drivetrain, the batteries and the body, then decides whether the cart can be rebuilt as a whole or is worth more in pieces. A cart with a solid frame and a dead battery pack may go back into service with new batteries. A cart with a rotted frame or heavy flood damage gets taken apart.
Which golf cart salvage parts get reused?
Golf carts share many parts across model years, so used components keep plenty of older carts running. Commonly harvested parts include:
- Motors, speed controllers and solenoids
- Rear axles and differentials
- Gas engines, carburetors and starter/generators
- Leaf springs, front suspension and steering parts
- Seats, seat backs and armrests
- Roofs, roof supports and windshields
- Body panels, bumpers and dash pieces
- Wheels, tires and light kits
- Chargers and wiring harnesses
Parts are cleaned, tested where possible, and used to repair other carts or sold to owners and shops. Some get refurbished along the way: seats recovered, panels repainted, motors rebuilt. Every reused part is one less new part that has to be made.
What happens to old lead-acid golf cart batteries?
Most older electric carts run on a pack of deep-cycle lead-acid batteries, and these have one of the best recycling track records of any product. Battery Council International, the lead battery industry group, reports a 99% recycling rate for lead batteries in the United States, based on a national study of data through 2018.
At a recycling plant, the batteries are broken down by material. The lead is recovered and made into new battery plates and parts. The polypropylene plastic cases are processed into new battery cases. The sulfuric acid is neutralized and treated, or converted into other products such as sodium sulfate.
Florida backs this up in law. Lead-acid batteries can't be disposed of in landfills or waste-to-energy plants (section 403.708, Florida Statutes), and stores that sell lead-acid batteries have to accept used ones as trade-ins. A golf cart pack is heavy, full of acid and loaded with lead, which is exactly why it belongs in that recycling system and nowhere near a dumpster.
How are lithium golf cart batteries recycled?
Newer carts, and many older carts that were upgraded, run on lithium batteries. These packs are recyclable, but the process takes more care. Packs are discharged and taken apart, and the cells are shredded into a powder that recyclers call "black mass." Lithium and other metals are then recovered from it, while copper and aluminum from the cell foils and wiring are separated out.
Before a lithium pack gets anywhere near a recycler, it has to be handled safely. Swollen, damaged or flooded packs can overheat or catch fire, so they need careful storage and transport. The EPA notes that large lithium batteries, like those in vehicles, may not be removable by the owner, and it recommends contacting the manufacturer, dealer or installer about how to manage them. We're experienced with lithium carts, including damaged ones, so that pack doesn't have to become your problem.
What happens to the frame and the rest of the metal?
Once the useful parts are off, the bare frame and leftover metal go to metal recycling. Club Car is known for aluminum frames, while E-Z-GO and Yamaha models like the TXT and Drive2 use coated steel frames. Both metals are recyclable, but they're sorted and processed separately, and aluminum generally brings more per pound.
Copper gets pulled out too, from motor windings, battery cables and wiring. On gas carts, the engine oil and leftover gasoline are drained before teardown so they don't leak during storage or crushing, and used oil can be recycled.
What about plastic body panels and seats?
Body panels, seats and roofs in decent shape are some of the easiest parts to reuse. Plastic is less straightforward to recycle than metal, because it comes in different types and is often painted or attached to other materials. Pulling the reusable panels first keeps a good amount of it out of the landfill.
Why responsible junk golf cart disposal matters
A cart left to rot in a side yard, or dumped somewhere, isn't harmless. The biggest concerns:
- Lead and acid. Cracked or neglected lead-acid batteries can leak acid and lead into soil and water.
- Lithium fire risk. The EPA warns that lithium batteries thrown in household trash or recycling bins can be crushed or damaged during collection and sorting, creating a fire hazard, and it points to an increase in fires at waste and recycling facilities. A golf cart pack stores far more energy than a phone or laptop battery.
- Fuel and oil. A gas cart that has sat for years can leak old gasoline and oil.
- Storm damage. After Hurricane Ian, Florida's State Fire Marshal warned that lithium batteries in golf carts, electric vehicles and scooters can catch fire after saltwater submersion.
How to make sure your cart is recycled the right way
Good golf cart recycling starts with asking what happens to your cart. A responsible buyer should be able to explain how they handle lead-acid and lithium batteries, which parts they reuse, and where the metal goes. If someone gets vague about the batteries, take that as a warning sign.
We buy carts in any condition, one cart or an entire fleet, handle the pickup and removal, and recycle batteries, metals and reusable parts responsibly. If your cart has been sitting in a Florida garage or yard and you're weighing your choices, our guide on how to get rid of an old golf cart in Florida covers each one. When you're ready, you can sell your junk golf cart knowing where it's headed.
Want your old cart reused and recycled instead of left to rot? Get a free quote or call 954-350-0440. Send a few photos of the cart and its batteries with your request, and we can give you a faster, more accurate offer.