ILMC Visit Report to Duncan Battery Plant.pdf - the International ...

ILMC Visit Report
December 3 2003
Basel Convention Project –
Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead
Acid Batteries in Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and the Island States of
the Caribbean
Acumuladores Duncan, C.A.
Cagua Plant,
Cagua
State of Aragua
Venezuela
The purpose of site visits by ILMC staff is to provide expert opinion and advice to
the project stakeholders on the environmental performance of the recovery
operations for ULAB and the standards of occupational health of all those
workers involved in the recycling process.
This report represents the views and opinions of the International Lead
Management Center (ILMC). Furthermore, any comments contained in the report
about the procedures, practices and lead recovery processes observed and any
recommendations to improve environmental performance and raise the
standards of occupational health are those of the ILMC.
Whilst representatives of the Basel Secretariat, the Project Steering Committee
and the Environment Ministries of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados,
Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador, and the Health Ministry of
Panama together with the Solid Waste Management Authority of St. Lucia were
present during the visit, their views and opinions are not represented in this
report.
Brian Wilson, ILMC Program Manager

ILMC Visit Report
Acumuladores Duncan, C.A.
Cagua Plant,
Cagua
State of Aragua
Venezuela
Following the delegates’ visit to the Fundición del Centro C.A. secondary lead
plant the management of the nearby Acumuladores Duncan factory invited them
to tour the manufacturing plant. The Duncan Group must be congratulated for
providing the delegates with an opportunity to see at first hand how lead acid
batteries are made.
Acumuladores Duncan 1 C.A., has more than forty years experience in the
manufacture of lead acid batteries. For over 30 years Duncan automotive
batteries have been the battery of choice and the preferred local component for
vehicles assembled in Venezuela. Indeed, the Duncan brand is available for all
types of vehicles, trucks and buses. In addition, the Duncan Group also
manufactures Industrial batteries for the following applications:
Telecommunications – back up battery power for power outages
Solar, nuclear and electric energy generation – electrical storage
Petroleum and petrochemical – specialized vehicles and equipment
Security installations – backup power supplies so the systems are “ON”
Computer installations – UPS battery packs for surges and power outages
However, the only batteries the delegates observed being made at the Cagua
Plant were automotive lead acid batteries.
The factory was clean and the housekeeping to high standard. Walkways were
clear and materials neatly stacked in allocated bays and service points.
It was obvious during the tour that the company works hard to maintain quality
standards in battery manufacture and that the workers took pride in
demonstrating the manufacturing process to the delegates.
Whilst the machines on the plate assembly sections did not have the latest downflow
personal ventilation systems, where necessary, employees were wearing
respirators.
Ventilation in the “Finishing” shed was better than most battery manufacturing
plants, but there were obvious problems with acid leakage from some of the
tanks and as a result one of the walkways was out of bounds to visitors.
1 Duncan web site is available in English and Spanish: http://www.duncan.com.ve/

Within the context of the Basel ULAB Project in the Caribbean, Central America,
Colombia and Venezuela, there is one recommendation that ILMC would like the
Duncan management to consider, and that is to improve the labeling on all
batteries so that each battery clearly shows:
The international recycling symbol ISO 7000-1135, better known as the
Moebius loop.
Instructions for recycling the battery when it is at the end of its useful life,
including the words “Contact your battery supplier”.
A point of contact clearly displayed so that inquiries can be made if
necessary. This can be phone, fax, web site or electronic address.
The words “lead-acid battery”, "Pb" or the words "LEAD".
The words “Protect the Environment – Recycle this Battery."
A bar code with information about the battery’s place of manufacture, the
date of production, the battery type and its components, including a list of
the alloying elements.
The international hazard symbol for acid.
The words “Do not dispose of this battery in Household waste or at a
Municipal Waste Dump”
Ideally, as Duncan Batteries are sold throughout the Americas and the
Caribbean, the text should be in English and Spanish.
Adopting such comprehensive labeling will help to promote recycling and set a
standard for all other battery manufacturers to follow.
Brian Wilson, Feb 2004