Battery Recycling and Disposal Reference Guide

Posted on 24th Jul 2013

What should you do when your batteries run out of juice? If you are having trouble finding out what should be done with old batteries then hopefully you will find the answers on this page useful. If you have AAA, D, C, 9V, camera, watch or even car batteries there is a solution! Batteries must be easily removable from consumer electonics, so that it easier to recover them for recycling. Some states have regulations in place that require battery recycling. For example California requires recycling of almost all battery types.

Summary of Real Recycling and Disposal Methods

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 classifi-cation	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. Most small electronics batteries are lithium based (ex. gps batteries, remote control batteries, tablet computer batteries & camera batteries).	3.7V, 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, etc.	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.
	* - A 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.