# Where do replacement UPS batteries go in our emissions?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/ups-battery-replacement-emissions

New batteries are Scope 3: Category 1 if expensed, Category 2 if you treat them as capital goods, matching your accounts. Their disposal is Category 5, waste. The electricity a UPS uses is already in your Scope 2 bill.

## Which category

- Expensed in the year: Category 1.
- Capitalised with the UPS: Category 2.
- Old batteries sent to a recycler: Category 5.

## The footprint

Use the battery supplier's figure if offered, or a per-unit footprint for lead-acid or lithium batteries by weight.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads quantities, dates and units from your bills and invoices and shows the factor and source used on every line.

- [Lead-acid battery footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/lead-acid-battery-carbon-footprint-per-unit)
- [Capital goods timing](https://senseible.earth/answers/capital-goods-scope-3-count-in-year-of-purchase)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-value-chain-scope-3-standard)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.