Did you know that some batteries are considered hazardous waste?
Batteries are everywhere in our home: in the remote control, in our cell phones, in our digital cameras, in the smoke detector, and even in our electric toothbrush. While all these batteries play the same role of keeping our electronics powered up and functioning, they are all made of different materials that include heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Depending on the type of battery you are using, improper disposal of household batteries can createfire risk and negative human health impacts. This is why it is important to know what to do once a battery is no longer useful.
To prevent toxic chemicals from being released to the environment, you should NOT put batteries in the regular trash with traditional household items before doing some research.
There are several types of batteries. Major distinctions are single-use and rechargeable. Single-use batteries include single-use alkaline or carbon zinc batteries, button cell batteries, or single-use lithium batteries. Rechargeable batteries include nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), lithium ion (Li-ion), nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn), and lead-acid batteries.
Recycling guidelines change depending if you are dealing with a single-use or rechargeable battery. Most rechargeable batteries can be recycled through recycling and stewardship programs such in North America, such as call2recycle.org in the United States, and call2recycle.ca in Canada.
If you want to safely get rid of a rechargeable battery and don’t know how, here is a step-by-step guide for you.
Step-by-Step Guide to Rechargeable Batteries Recycling
Step 1: Confirm your battery is rechargeable
- Make sure it is not a single-use battery. Single-use batteries have a different handling process due to their components. These include single-use alkaline batteries, button cells or coin batteries, or single-use lithium batteries.
- If you have discarded the possibility of it being a single-use battery, confirm it is a rechargeable one. To do this, check the labeling or the cell composition. Rechargeable cells include cadmium (Ni-Cd), lithium ion (Li-ion), nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn), and lead-acid batteries.
Step 2: Store your batteries safely at home
Safe storage is key! Here are some tips to prevent batteries from creating risk while storing.
- Prevent accidental short circuits: You can either bag each battery in its own clear plastic bag or tape the terminals with clear non-conductive electrical or duct tape.
- Set up a designated storage bin: Designate a safe, non-metallic battery storage bin at home. A plastic container or a labeled cardboard box are good candidates. Do not locate your batteries storage bin in a place with direct sunlight or high temperatures.
- Avoid stockpiling: Drop-off your batteries frequently to avoid accumulating large quantities of rechargeable batteries for extended periods of time.
Step 3: Identify your closest battery recycling center or local store
To identify your nearest recycling drop-off site, you can use the call2recycle tool or the earth911 recycling locator tool. These programs accept various kind of removable rechargeable batteries.
- Recycle retail participant: Home Depot stores as well as Lowe’s, Best Buy, and Ikea locations offer free drop-off recycle bins where you can recycle your rechargeable batteries.
- Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility: Check your county’s designated drop-off location for battery recycling. Usually, this service is free for county residents. A good thing to know is that that these facilities occasionally offer mobile events for communities, so I would encourage you to check this as well.
- Shipping: If you need to recycle larger volumes, a mail-in battery recycling is available via call2recycle. This is a paid service.
Note that to recycle non-removable rechargeable batteries contained in portable electronics, you will have to find a dedicated recycling program for electronics intake.
Step 4: Transport to rechargeable battery collection site
- Do not leave unattended: If transporting by car, do not leave your battery recycling kit unattended in your car to prevent subjecting it to extreme temperatures.
- Make it worth the miles: When dropping off, know that some stores also accept other recyclable items such as clean plastic film or plastic shopping bags. This is worth checking if you want to maximize your miles!