Recycle Rechargeable Batteries
Batteries that are rechargeable should be recycled. This includes lithium, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, zinc air and lead acid batteries. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) provides recycling drop-off locations for rechargeable batteries at area retail stores. For a complete list of locations, call 1.800.8BATTERY or search by zip code on their website.
Single-use alkaline batteries cannot be recycled. Once the battery power is used up, place them in the regular trash. These batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous waste. Alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals -- steel, zinc and manganese -- and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal. Cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries.
Learn more about proper disposal of batteries.