Recombinant and stationary lead/acid batteries generally use lead—calcium—tin alloys for grids, lead—tin alloys for strap and top lead, and high purity lead for oxide. In many cases, primary lead has been specified for these materials in recombinant batteries because both recycled lead and recycled lead alloys were not thought to be of sufficient purity. With improvements in analytical instruments, it is now possible to determine impurity elements at much lower levels. Because problem elements can be analyzed, refining procedures have now been developed to remove gas-producing impurity elements from recycled lead to levels as low as, or lower than, those in primary lead. These new refinery practices and analytical tests have increased the purity of refined recycled lead, and have permitted the use of recycled lead in recombinant and stand-by batteries. Some elements, deemed to be impurities that must be removed, may in fact be beneficial in alloys for recombinant batteries. This paper examines the purity requirements of lead and lead alloys for recombinant and stand-by batteries, indicates the problem elements, and shows the effects of beneficial elements.