Take used batteries to a recycling drop-off at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Best Buy, or to a household hazardous waste site. Don’t throw them in the trash.
Where
- Retailers: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Staples (via Call2Recycle drop boxes).
- Household hazardous waste collection sites.
- Municipal recycling programs.
- Use Call2Recycle.org or Earth911.com to find drop-offs.
By type
- Single-use alkaline (AA, AAA): many areas allow trash, but California requires recycling.
- Lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries: always recycle, they can start fires.
- Button cell and lead-acid: recycle.
Safety
Tape the terminals of lithium batteries and button cells to prevent fires.
Fire risk
Lithium batteries cause fires in garbage trucks and recycling plants.
Car batteries
Return to the retailer, where you may get a core credit.
Law
Many states regulate battery disposal.
Where
Batteries should never go in household trash or curbside recycling in most places. Options:
- Retailers with take-back programs: Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Staples, and Batteries Plus accept many types for recycling, often for free.
- Local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection sites or events.
- Municipal recycling centers.
- Call2Recycle drop-off locator (call2recycle.org) lists over 16,000 sites in the US and Canada.
- Mail-in programs for certain batteries.
- Earth911 recycling search at search.earth911.com.
By type
- Alkaline (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V): in most US states except California, these can go in regular trash, as they no longer contain mercury since the 1990s, though recycling is encouraged. California requires recycling of all batteries.
- Lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries (phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes): must be recycled. Tape the terminals.
- Lithium primary (coin cell, camera batteries): recycle and tape the terminals.
- Button cells (watch, hearing aid): recycle. They contain silver or mercury.
- Lead-acid (car, motorcycle, UPS batteries): recycle. Retailers must accept an old battery when you buy a new one in many states, and about 99% of lead-acid batteries are recycled in the US.
- Nickel-cadmium and nickel metal hydride: recycle.
Safety
Tape over the terminals of lithium and 9V batteries with clear tape, or place each in a separate bag, to prevent short circuits. Store in a cool, dry place in a non-metal container, away from flammable items. Do not crush, puncture or burn batteries. Damaged or swollen batteries should be placed in sand or cat litter and taken to hazardous waste staff.
Fire risk
Lithium-ion batteries in trash and recycling trucks cause fires. The EPA found over 240 fires at waste facilities from 2013 to 2020 linked to batteries, and the true number is higher. Never put them in the trash or recycling bin.
Car batteries
Return old car batteries to the store or an auto parts shop. Many give a core charge refund of $10 to $20 when you return the old battery. Lead and sulfuric acid are hazardous.
Law
Federal law (the Battery Act of 1996) regulates certain batteries. Many states, such as California, New York, Minnesota and Vermont, have laws on battery disposal and producer take-back programs. Check your state’s rules.
Federal and state rules
Under the EPA’s Universal Waste Rule, rechargeable batteries (lithium ion, nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride) and lead acid batteries should be recycled and not placed in household trash. Call2Recycle runs a drop off network with over 16,000 locations in the US, including many Home Depot, Lowe’s and Best Buy stores. Single use alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, 9V) are legal to throw out in most states, but California requires recycling of all batteries. Tape the terminals of lithium and 9V batteries before disposal, since contact with metal can cause fires. Lithium battery fires in waste trucks and facilities are a growing hazard, with the EPA reporting hundreds of fires per year. Car batteries are accepted by auto parts stores, usually with a core charge refund. Damaged or swollen lithium batteries should be put in sand or a nonflammable container and taken to hazardous waste collection.
Based on data from the EPA and Call2Recycle
