Forum Description
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, 

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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, with long-run residual effects. Health issues include high blood pressure, kidney damage, detrimental effects on fetuses during pregnancy, neurological problems, and arrested development in children.

Given the two scenarios below, what action do you take:

(1) You own an independent auto repair shop and are trying to safely dispose a few old batteries each week. (Your battery supplier is an auto parts supplier who refuses to take your old batteries).

(2) You are the manager of a large retailer responsible for disposal of thousands of used batteries each day

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The group discussion forum is a space for you to collaborate with your group as you work towards the various deliverables for the Requirements Document assignment. To help guide your group discussion this week, please read the instructions below.

Details
As soon as possible after the class meeting, please participate in this discussion forum to continue working on Part II of the Requirements Document project.

Your group should use this discussion forum to discuss 1) revisions you plan to make to the draft as a result of feedback, 2) how you plan to implement the revisions, and 3) how you plan to draft the remaining components of the technical section. Make your initial post early so that you have time to comment on each other’s posts and develop a plan for the final draft before the end of the module. The earlier you make your initial post, the more time you will have for group conversations. You must make at least two posts by the due date.

Assessment Criteria
Timely completion (1 point per post for up to 2 points)
Quality of contributions—Were your contributions relevant? Did they help advance the project toward completion by asking a key question, addressing and/or satisfying open issues, expressing a key thought, or contributing content and detail to satisfy a requirement? (Up to 3 points)