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If you are having a difficult time finding out what to do with used batteries and where you can take them to be recycled or safely treated and disposed, then you should find a solution here on this page. Whether you have a AAA, AA, C, D, watch, button, hearing aid or car battery, there is a solution.
All types of batteries are accepted at the recycling and reuse building at the North Transfer Station . Household Hazardous Waste facilities accept alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9v) for recycling. Alkaline batteries may also go in the garbage.
Find out what to do with other types of batteries using Seattle Public Utilities�™ Where Does It Go tool .
You might also like these convenient all-in-one battery recycling collection containers. There good for home or business. They're obvious and clear, no explanation required. It has everything you need, Everything you need to easily and safely recycle batteries: an attractive box, instructions, a roll of tape, required labels, and a D.O.T. Special Permit.
Drop off electronics at the recycling and reuse building at the North Transfer Station. Other options include recycling electronics at a Take it Back Network, or at E-Cycle Washington locations.
Recycling of non rechargeable batteries is becoming more commonplace, but it can still be a challenge to find a local drop-off location. Recycling used RECHARGEABLE household batteries is now possible! The battery manufacturers have funded a joint recycling center. To find a center near you that will take them, click here! (in the US or Canada))( Which types do they take? Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead* (Pb) rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, two-way radios, camcorders and remote control toys.
Note that California is a bit of a special case. California regulations require recycling for more types of batteries than other states. See this page for detailed information about how and where to recycle batteries in California.
For more information about the program and the sponsors, click on Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation And if you are looking for companies that can recycle batteries from businesses and governments, see this page.
Batteries, CFL light bulbs and other household hazardous waste. Single-family home residents can recycle the following curbside by following these simple steps:
The Washington State Department of Ecology has the E-Cycle Washington program in place to provide responsible recycling of various electronics.
Batteries: Shoreline residents can recycle household batteries at no-cost. Recycled alkaline batteries are added to steel to be made into re-bar for use in new construction, and the hazardous waste is re-used whenever possible. Collections bins are set up at the following locations:
Battery types accepted include: alkaline, carbon zinc, lithium, lithium-ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal-hydride, and small rechargeable lead acid batteries less than 2 pounds.
Electronics Recycling Locations
Electronics Accepted:
To recycle additional electronics that are not included in the
E-Cycle Washington program, visit
Electronics and Appliances Recycling at Best Buy.
Take the rechargeable batteries to any of the participating retailers. In the U.S.: Alltel, Batteries Plus, Best Buy, Black & Decker, Cingular Wireless, The Home Depot, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Orchard Supply, Porter Cable Service Center, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless, and Wal-Mart. And in Canada: Battery Plus, Bell Mobility, Canadian Tire, FIDO/Microcell, Future Shop, The Home Depot, Home Hardware, London Drugs, Makita Factory Service Centers, Personal Edge/Centre du Rasoir, RadioShack Canada, Revy, Sasktel, Sears, The Sony Store, Telus Mobility and Zellers.
Use the RBRC collection site locator, or call the consumer helpline, 1-800-8-BATTERY, to find the retail collection site nearest you.
Non-rechargeable (typically "alkaline batteries") still don't have a recycler and general just must be disposed in the trash. If you have large quantities or are a business, talk with your permitted sanitary landfill operator (otherwise known as "sanitation services", the "dump" or "landfill"). Waste batteries should not be burned because of the metals, and they could explode. When burned, some heavy metals such as mercury may vaporize and escape into the air, and cadmium and lead may end up in the ash.
Click here for one more place to try to find a recycling location near you if none of the options above were suitable.
| Contact your local or county health department, waste disposal operator, extension educator, recycling facility, call the EPA Hotline and ask for a copy of the publication: "Used Dry Cell Batteries" - phone (800) 424-9346. This publication does not address nonhousehold waste battery sources such as medical, business, etc. |
Check with your local solid waste management district (listed under County Government in your phone book) for any outlets for household battery recycling. See if your local jeweler, pharmacy or battery retailer will accept button batteries for recycling. Ohio EPA keeps a list of battery recycling and disposal companies on file; however, these companies are usually set up to serve industrial or municipal customers with bulk amounts of batteries rather than individuals.
Battery Type |
Common Name |
Sizes Available |
Examples of Use |
Disposal classification |
Proper Disposal |
| Alkaline
( manganese) |
Coppertop, Alkaline | AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V | Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls | These batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous waste. | Place in the trash (normal municipal waste). Exceptions: California which requires non-households to dispose of these batteries in accordance with the California Universal Waste Rules. |
| Button | Mercuric Oxide, Silver Oxide, Lithium, Alkaline, Zinc-Air | Sizes vary | Watches, hearing aids, toys, greeting cards, remote controls | hazardous waste | Bring to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site |
| Carbon Zinc | "Classic", Heavy Duty, General Purpose, All Purpose, Power Cell | AAA, AA, C, D
6V, 9V |
Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls, transistor radios, garage door openers | These batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous waste. | Place in the trash (normal municipal waste). Exceptions: California - requires non-households to dispose of these batteries in accordance with the California Universal Waste Rules. Also, Minnesota (Hennipen County only) requires these batteries be disposed as a hazardous waste. |
| Lithium / Lithium Ion | Usually has "lithium" label on the battery | 3V, 6V, 3V button | Cameras, calculators, computer memory back-up, tennis shoes | These batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous waste | They can be recycled! To find a center near you that will take them, click here! |
| Nickel-Cadmium (Rechargeable) | Either unlabeled or labeled "Ni-Cd" | AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V | Flashlights, toys, cellular phones, power tools, computer packs | hazardous waste | To find a center near you that will take them, click here! or Bring to a Household HazardousWaste Collection Site |
| Nickel Metal Hydride (Rechargeable) | Either unlabeled or labeled "Ni-Li" or "Ni-Hydride) | AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V | Flashlights, toys, cellular phones, power tools, computer packs | non-hazardous waste - except in California, which requires non-households to dispose of these batteries in accordance with the California Universal Waste Rules. | Safe for disposal in the normal municipal waste stream. These batteries are also acceptable for recycling by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's (RBRC) Battery Recycling Program. |
| Reusable Alkaline Manganese (Rechargeable) | Renewal | AAA, AA, C, D | Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, radios, remote controls | Place in the trash | |
| Sealed Lead Acid (Rechargeable)
|
"Gel," VRB, AGM, Cyclone, El Power, Dynasty, Gates, Lithonia, Saft, Panasonic, Yuasa | Multiples of 2 Volts: 2V, 6V, 12V | Video cameras, power tools, wheelchairs, ATV's, metal detectors, clocks, cameras | hazardous waste | To find a center near you that will take them, click here! Bring to a Household HazardousWaste Collection Site |
| Lead Acid Vehicle Batteries | Autozone, Sears Die Hard, Yuasa | 12V, 6V | Cars, trucks, motorcycles | hazardous waste | Take back to place of purchase
< Most places that sell car batteries will also accept them for recycling. There may be a fee for this service. metal recycler may pay you for your car battery. Look in the yellow pages under "Recycling Centers" for a list of recyclers. |
| Silver Oxide | Panasonic Silver Oxide | Sizes vary | Watches, hearing aids, toys, greeting cards, remote controls | hazardous waste | Non-Consumers must dispose of these batteries in full compliance
with the hazardous waste rules. Consumers are covered by the Household exemption
under RCRA which
allows for these batteries to be disposed of into the municipal waste
stream. These batteries are also acceptable for
recycling by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's (RBRC) Battery Recycling Program. |
Keep in mind that the battery manufacturers have funded the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's (RBRC) Battery Recycling Program to find a drop off location for batteries nearest you, so that you wouldn't need to call the manufacturers directly. To find a location, click to visit the RBRC homepage or call 1-800-8-BATTERY.
| Manufacturer (click the name for their website) | Phone number | Email address or contact form |
| Panasonic | 1-800-211-PANA (7262) | Panasonic contact form |
| Duracell | Duracell contact form | |
| Eveready Energizer (i.e., the Energizer Bunny) |
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The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming
Book: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History Paperback
