Battery Disposal and Recycling

Batteries are commonly divided into two categories: single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries. Single-use batteries are designed for one discharge cycle, while rechargeable batteries can be recharged and used repeatedly.

Correct disposal depends on the battery’s chemistry, size, condition, and local rules. As a general rule, do not place any battery in curbside recycling bins. Lithium, rechargeable, button-cell, and damaged batteries can create fire, chemical, choking, or poisoning hazards if improperly discarded.

Identify the Battery Type

Check the label on the battery or device. Common labels include:

• Alkaline

• Zinc-carbon

• Lithium

• Lithium metal

• Lithium-ion or Li-ion

• Lithium-polymer or Li-Po

• Nickel-cadmium or Ni-Cd

• Nickel-metal hydride or Ni-MH

• Button cell or coin cell

• Lead-acid

• Rechargeable

• Zero Mercury or 0% Hg

  
  

If you are unsure, do not place the battery in household trash. Contact a battery recycler, household hazardous-waste program, manufacturer, retailer, or local solid-waste authority for instructions.

1. Single-Use Alkaline Batteries

Alkaline batteries are commonly used in remote controls, clocks, toys, flashlights, smoke alarms, and household devices. They are usually labeled alkaline, zero mercury, or 0% Hg.

In many parts of the United States, single-use alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries may be placed in household trash if local rules allow. They should not be placed in curbside recycling. Some states and local governments require or encourage battery recycling, so check local rules first.

Best practices

• Check your state or local waste authority’s instructions.

• Recycle alkaline batteries through a household hazardous-waste program or mail-back service if one is available.

• Keep leaking, corroded, or damaged alkaline batteries separate from household trash and ask a local hazardous-waste program for instructions.

• Do not mix alkaline batteries with lithium or rechargeable batteries.

Mail-back recycling options may be available through companies such as Battery Solutions and Big Green Box. Fees, accepted battery types, shipping requirements, and service areas vary. Confirm current rules directly with the provider before using a service.

2. Lithium and Lithium-Metal Batteries

Lithium batteries should never be placed in household trash or curbside recycling.

Lithium batteries may be nonrechargeable, often called lithium-metal or primary-lithium batteries, or rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. They are used in key fobs, watches, cameras, medical devices, security sensors, smoke alarms, toys, power tools, phones, laptops, tablets, e-bikes, and many other products.

Common labels include:

• Lithium

• Li

• Lithium metal

• Primary lithium

• Li-ion

• Lithium-ion

• Li-Po

• Lithium-polymer

Lithium batteries can spark, overheat, ignite, or cause fires if they are crushed, punctured, damaged, or short-circuited. This can occur in garbage trucks, recycling machinery, waste facilities, and landfills.

How to prepare lithium batteries

For batteries that are in good condition and designed to be removable:

• Cover exposed terminals with nonconductive tape, such as electrical tape.

• Place each battery in a separate plastic bag if the collection site requests it.

• Keep batteries away from keys, coins, jewelry, tools, and other metal objects.

• Store batteries temporarily in a cool, dry, nonmetal container away from heat, direct sunlight, children, pets, and flammable materials.

• Take them to a battery recycler, household hazardous-waste program, electronics recycler, or participating retailer that confirms it accepts the specific battery type and size.

Do not remove a built-in lithium battery unless the manufacturer or recycler specifically instructs you to do so.

3. Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries should never be placed in household trash or curbside recycling.

Rechargeable batteries include lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and some sealed lead-acid batteries.

They are commonly found in:

• Phones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches

• Cordless power tools and garden equipment

• Rechargeable vacuums

• Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and earbuds

• Cameras and drones

• E-bikes, e-scooters, and portable chargers

• UPS battery backup units

• Cordless phones and handheld electronics

Rechargeable batteries can still retain energy even after a device stops working or appears fully discharged. If damaged, crushed, or short-circuited, they can overheat, ignite, or release hazardous chemicals.

Disposal options

Take rechargeable batteries to:

• A household hazardous-waste facility

• A battery-recycling drop-off site

• An electronics recycler

• A participating retailer that confirms it accepts the battery

• A manufacturer take-back or mail-back program

For devices with built-in batteries, such as phones, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, power banks, vapes, e-bikes, and rechargeable tools, take the complete device to an electronics recycler or hazardous-waste facility that specifically accepts battery-containing equipment.

Do not attempt to open or dismantle a device to remove a built-in battery unless the manufacturer or receiving facility gives you specific instructions.

4. Button-Cell and Coin Batteries

Button-cell and coin batteries are small, round batteries used in watches, key fobs, toys, hearing aids, remote controls, calculators, greeting cards, medical devices, and other compact electronics.

They should never be placed in household trash or curbside recycling. They may contain lithium, silver oxide, alkaline chemistry, zinc-air chemistry, or other materials that require specialized handling.

Serious swallowing and choking hazard

Button and coin batteries can be extremely dangerous if swallowed or inserted into the nose or ear. They can become lodged in the throat and cause severe chemical burns and tissue damage in as little as two hours.

Keep button batteries:

• Locked away and out of sight and reach of children.

• Away from pets.

• In original child-resistant packaging whenever possible.

• Out of toys, remotes, greeting cards, and electronics with loose or damaged battery compartments.

• Taped over or individually bagged after removal until they can be taken to a battery collection site.

Do not let children play with batteries. Do not store loose button batteries in bowls, drawers, pockets, purses, or containers that children can reach.

If a battery may have been swallowed

Treat a suspected button-battery ingestion as an emergency.

• Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666.

• Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

• Go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

• Call 911 if the person has trouble breathing, collapses, has a seizure, cannot be awakened, or has another immediate medical emergency.

• Do not wait for symptoms. Serious injury can occur even if the child initially appears well.

Follow the directions given by Poison Control or emergency medical professionals. Do not induce vomiting or give food or drink unless a qualified medical professional specifically instructs you to do so.

5. Damaged, Leaking, or Recalled Batteries

A battery may be unsafe if it is:

• Swollen or bulging

• Leaking fluid

• Crushed, punctured, cracked, or wet

• Corroded

• Hot or unusually warm

• Smoking, sparking, hissing, or making popping sounds

• Giving off an unusual chemical odor

• Part of a recalled product

• Involved in a fire, collision, or water exposure

Do not place damaged, leaking, swollen, burned, or recalled batteries into ordinary retail battery-recycling bins unless the location specifically confirms it accepts them.

Do not:

• Use, charge, puncture, crush, cut, burn, disassemble, or attempt to repair the battery.

• Put it in household trash or curbside recycling.

• Place it near heat, flammable materials, children, or pets.

• Mail or ship it unless an authorized program provides specific instructions and compliant packaging.

Contact the manufacturer, local household hazardous-waste program, fire department nonemergency line, or a recycler that specifically accepts damaged batteries for instructions.

If a battery is smoking, on fire, emitting sparks, becoming unusually hot, or creating an immediate danger, move people away from the area and call 911 or your local emergency number.

6. Where to Recycle Batteries

Possible battery-disposal and recycling options include:

• City or county household hazardous-waste facilities

• Local solid-waste or environmental agencies

• Battery-recycling programs

• Electronics recyclers

• Participating retailers

• Manufacturer take-back and mail-back programs

• Auto-parts stores for automotive batteries

• Authorized e-bike, scooter, tool, or appliance retailers for larger batteries

Before visiting, contact the location and ask:

• Do you accept the battery type, size, chemistry, and condition?

• Do you accept loose batteries, batteries inside devices, or both?

• Do you accept lithium-ion, lithium-metal, button, rechargeable, lead-acid, or damaged batteries?

• Are there weight, quantity, packaging, appointment, or fee requirements?

• Must terminals be taped or batteries bagged individually?

• Do you accept batteries from households, businesses, schools, or nonprofits?

Quick Reference

Sources and Resources

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Button Cell and Coin Battery Safety Information

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Button Cell and Coin Battery Dangers

• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Safe Recycling and Disposal of Household Batteries

• Poison Control, Poison Control Help Line and Online Tool

• Battery Solutions, Battery Recycling Information

• Big Green Box, Battery Recycling Programs

Safety and Legal Notice

Connecting The Dots Project provides this guide for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical, legal, technical, safety, environmental, recycling, waste-management, hazardous-materials, transportation, or emergency-response advice.

Battery-disposal rules, collection-site acceptance, fees, preparation requirements, shipping restrictions, and recycling laws vary by location, battery chemistry, battery condition, manufacturer, and receiving facility. Before transporting, recycling, or disposing of a battery or battery-powered device, contact the manufacturer, local government or solid-waste authority, household hazardous-waste program, and receiving facility for current instructions.

Do not open, dismantle, puncture, crush, burn, charge, repair, move, transport, or handle a swollen, leaking, damaged, recalled, burned, wet, or overheating battery unless you are trained, authorized, and specifically instructed to do so by the manufacturer, emergency personnel, or receiving facility.

If a battery is smoking, on fire, emitting sparks, becoming unusually hot, or creating an immediate danger, move people away from the area and call 911 or your local emergency number. Do not attempt to open, puncture, move, or extinguish the battery unless directed by emergency responders.

If a button or coin battery may have been swallowed or inserted into the nose or ear, seek emergency medical care immediately. Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, unconsciousness, or another life-threatening emergency.

Mention of any company, retailer, recycler, program, certification, or organization is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, affiliation, recommendation, or guarantee of acceptance, service quality, safety, or environmental performance.

Connecting The Dots Project does not guarantee that this information is complete, current, accurate, or suitable for every battery or situation. Use of this guide is at the reader’s own risk.