According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), millions of single-use and rechargeable batteries are bought, used, recycled, or disposed of in the trash each year in the United States.
There are various types of batteries depending on the size and how they will be used. Single-use batteries are those that are discarded after one-time use when they can no longer provide power to a device. Rechargeable batteries are a preferred energy source because they can be used multiple times.
As the use of portable electronic devices has grown, so has the use of batteries to power them. With so many batteries in use, be sure to follow these safe tips for disposal when yours can no longer be used.
Safely dispose of your batteries
- Tape the terminal ends of your lithium-ion batteries.
- Bag lithium-ion batteries individually in sealable plastic bags.
- Do not place lithium-ion batteries inside your trash cart/can or recycling bin! They are known to start fires!
- Recycle lithium-ion batteries along with other rechargeable and disposable batteries where collected in your community. Some retail stores, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Best Buy, also accept batteries for recycling. For locations, visit Call2Recycle®.
Standard household alkaline batteries do not contain hazardous chemicals and may be disposed of in the trash. For added safety, please attach tape to both ends of alkaline batteries before disposal.
For more on rechargeable batteries, check out Go Reusable with Your Batteries.
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