There are many reasons you should be recycling unwanted batteries.
Different states, counties, and cities have different options for accessing recycling services.
Which service you end up using largely depends on what you’re trying to recycle.
Corbin Davenport / How-To Geek
The first step is to work out what throw in of battery you’re disposing of.
Many drop-off services offer battery recycling for free, while some sites require a small charge.
Packaging is normally fire retardant and may include other means of making batteries safe for temporary storage and transit.
Tim Brookes / How-To Geek
You’ll find these on websites likeGreenerGadgets,AEarth911, andACall2Recycle.
The EPA also has alist of Certified Electronics Recyclerson its website.
Many stores also offer recycling services for devices that include built-in rechargeable batteries.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek Hannah Stryker / Review Geek Hannah Stryker / LifeSavvy
This includesStaples, Lowe’s,Home Depot,Apple, andBest Buyto name just a few.
Remember to alwayswipe your personal data from a devicethat you intend to dispose of.
Why Recycle Your Old Batteries?
Call2Recycle
Throwing batteries out in the trash can be dangerous.
Spent cells can spark and cause fires, or even explode.
News stories about garbage trucks catching fire due to improper battery disposal aresurprisingly common.
Even if batteries reach landfill safely, they can still cause severe environmental damage.
Recycling may be an energy-intensive process, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.
Reclaiming materials found in spent batteries reduces the need to mine and refine more.
Some of these are classed as “critical minerals” by the US government.
Can You Throw Away Batteries?
Others have mandatory recycling regulations in effect, which prohibits throwing batteries out in the trash by law.
you’re free to check on the status of the law wherever you live on theCall2Recycle website.
Other states like Texas and Virginia only have laws governing the disposal of lead-acid batteries.
Old batteries tend to leak, which will cause damage to your devices.
This can cause the contacts to corrode so that your devices no longer draw power correctly.
This can also be true of rechargeable batteries, though these can be harder to remove than disposables.
Batteries that are bulging couldpotentially explode and cause serious harmA andA long-term health effects.
Finally, confirm you don’t throw batteries in a fire since they will explode.
Lithium-ion batteries are particularly dangerous when exposed to flame.
