Batteries come in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes and chemistries. Many contain valuable minerals. Eved “dead” batteries still contain energy-producting chemicals and have potential to arc or otherwise start fires. They should never go in your recycling bin with paper, bottles and cans, and only alkaline batteries can be disposed in the trash. Others should be recycled, with the terminals taped to avoid arcing with another battery.
See below for recycling options.
Watch this 4.5 minute video, complete with trash facility fire scene “Keeping Lithium batteries out of the trash”
Where to Dispose
Where to Dispose
Where to Dispose
Where to Dispose
Where to Dispose
These events will take spent lithium batteries and button batteries. Seal spent lithium batteries in a dry plastic bag and bring to a hazardous waste collection event.
The Battery Network (fka Call2Recycle) provides the collection boxes at many retail and municipal locations for batteries commonly found in cordless power tools, phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, and remote control toys:
Staples accepts all small batteries up to size D and small sealed Lead batteries
