Which Batteries are Recyclable?

Power - by Joe Weber - updated on 5/20/2024

employee talking to a customer about recycling

You just finished replacing your car battery all by yourself and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. But wait a minute, what do you do with the old battery currently sitting on the garage floor? Can I throw it away? Is there somewhere that will recycle it? Continue reading to discover how you can properly dispose of batteries and which batteries must be recycled.

How Do I Dispose of Old Batteries?

Check with your local municipality's laws and regulations to see what, if anything, can be thrown in the trash or recycling bin in your area. As you'll learn below, many batteries need to be recycled for the health and safety of the public and the environment.

Many local municipalities have recycling centers where you can take your spent batteries for proper disposal. It is important to remember that in many areas, even common alkaline batteries need to be properly disposed of, so make sure you pay attention to local recycling laws.

What Batteries Can I Recycle?

You might be surprised to find out that many batteries, including car batteries, not only can be recycled but must be recycled. See below for information on which batteries are safe to throw away and which need recycling.

Single Use Batteries

Alkaline Batteries

Alkaline batteries like your everyday AAs and AAAs are approved for disposal in normal household waste in some communities, but there are efforts to recycle them for environmental benefits. Check your local laws and contact your community recycling center to see if they will accept alkaline batteries.

EPA Recommendation: Bring your used alkaline batteries to battery recyclers or check with your local or state solid waste authority.

Button-Cell or Coin Batteries

Popular in children's toys, hearing aids, watches and vehicle remotes, these batteries come in a variety of chemistries and are the focus of Reese's Law. The majority of these batteries are lithium and special care should be taken for the health and safety of the people and the environment.

EPA Recommendation: Do not put button or coin batteries in the trash or municipal recycling bin. They should be disposed of properly at a recycling facility.

Primary Lithium Batteries

Lithium AA, AAA, 9V, etc. should never be tossed in your trash and need to be disposed of properly. Each battery should be placed in a separate plastic bag or wrapped in tape to protect against batteries coming in contact with each other to prevent sparks. Single-use lithium batteries should never be placed in the trash or municipal recycling bins.

EPA Recommendation: Lithium batteries should never be disposed of with household trash or recycling and should be properly disposed of at a recycling facility.

Rechargeable Batteries

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Quickly becoming one of the most prevalent batteries in the market, the proportion of lithium-ion batteries sent to landfills has increased greatly over the years. While intact Li-ion batteries are relatively harmless, the number of them being disposed of is a concern. Recycling lithium-ion batteries is done more for environmental reasons than anything. After sitting in a landfill the product could start to break down and become toxic. Most of the time the cost of the recycling process for lithium-ion batteries is covered by battery manufacturers so there is no reason for them to go to landfills.

EPA Recommendation: Bring used Li-ion batteries to an approved local recycling facility.

Nickel-Cadmium Batteries

Nickel-cadmium batteries pose a very serious threat to the environment and the health of the public. If Cadmium is absorbed into the ground it is toxic to plants, animals and microorganisms. It also affects your kidneys, liver and bones and is also highly carcinogenic if inhaled. For the health and safety of the public and the environment, these batteries must be recycled or at a minimum taken to a hazardous waste disposal center.

EPA Recommendation: Bring used Ni-Cd batteries to an approved local recycling facility.

Nickel-Metal-Hydride Batteries

Not quite as toxic as nickel-cadmium but still harmful in large quantities, used NiMH batteries should be recycled or disposed of by taking them to a recycling center or hazardous waste disposal site.

EPA Recommendation: Bring used Ni-MH batteries to an approved local recycling facility.

Sealed Lead Acid

Smaller sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries that are seen in security systems, UPS backup units, fire and security systems, mobility scooters, children's riding toys and so much more must be recycled due to their lead content. Lead is hazardous to our health and the environment and should never be allowed in landfills to pollute the soil and water.

EPA Recommendation: Bring used SLA batteries to an approved local recycling facility or return them to the store where the new one was purchased.

Automotive Batteries

Lead Batteries

Heavy lead batteries, like car, truck and marine batteries, must be recycled and are one of the only batteries that have nearly a 100% recycling rate in the United States. Other than environmental factors, recycling lead batteries is also cost-effective. Reclaimed lead and plastics from recycled batteries are used to manufacture new batteries.

EPA Recommendation: Bring used Lead-Acid batteries to an approved local recycling facility or return them to the store where the new one was purchased.

How Do I Find Local Recycling Centers?

Earth 911 has made it incredibly easy to find a recycling center in your area for all of your old and used batteries (not to mention electronics and other items). Just select the type of battery you wish to recycle below, enter your zip code and presto, all of the local centers that can assist you are presented.

Recycle Your Old Batteries and Light Bulbs at Batteries Plus

Batteries Plus is here to help with all of your battery recycling and disposal needs! Stop into your local Batteries Plus store to see how we can help you. Visit our recycling page to learn more about what we will recycle, everything from light bulbs and batteries to small electronics and power tools. Keep in mind that some items that we do accept come with a fee attached for proper disposal.

To learn more about recycling batteries and lightbulbs please read our blog articles titled "Recycle Your Old Batteries and Light Bulbs at Batteries Plus" and "How to Dispose of Car Batteries Safely".

Want to learn more about our recycling services?

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