UNITED BATTERY SYSTEMS INC. has maintained a strong customer base year after year which is reflected today by the company's continued success. Howard also pioneered the export of scrap batteries to Pacific Rim countries for reclamation. The components of a battery are one hundred percent recyclable, over seventy percent of the feed stock for the manufacture of new batteries comes from recycled battery lead. A collection system was established for scrap batteries in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii. This effort has helped keep the environment cleaner. In December of 1986 the department of transportation shut down the export of scrap batteries from the United States. This was due to improper packing, labeling and marking. At this point no one knew how to package the batteries according to D.O.T. regulations. UNITED BATTERY SYSTEMS INC. employees worked with U.S. Coast Guard officials and devised a packaging procedure that met all regulations and was acceptable to the Captain of the port; these procedures are presently being used where ever batteries are being exported by water shipment. Over the years a consistent number of sales in the category of rebuilt starters and alternators prompted Howard to add a custom rebuild operation to the main branch to service the built-in sales of the satellite branches and open up to the heavy industrial rebuild markets.