Why batteries are different
Batteries and small electrical items look harmless, but they do not belong in ordinary household rubbish or the general recycling bin. There are two main reasons: safety and materials.
On the safety side, batteries store energy. If a battery is crushed, punctured or short-circuited, it can heat up and sometimes catch fire. This is a particular concern with lithium-based batteries, which are common in phones, laptops, power tools, vapes, e-bikes and many toys. Fires linked to batteries have been reported in bin lorries and sorting plants in several countries, which is one reason waste operators ask people to keep them separate.
On the materials side, batteries and circuit boards contain metals and other components that can be valuable to recover, and some can be harmful if they leak into soil or water at landfill sites. Specialist recycling can recover part of this material, although how much depends on the battery type and the process used.
Common types you will meet
- Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V): the usual single-use type. Rules for these vary between countries and councils.
- Rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-metal hydride types.
- Lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries: rechargeable packs in phones, tablets, laptops, headphones, cameras, e-bikes and scooters.
- Button cells: small coin-shaped batteries in watches, key fobs and hearing aids. These are a serious hazard to children and pets if swallowed, so keep them out of reach and seek urgent medical help if one is swallowed.
- Lead-acid batteries, such as car batteries, which usually have their own take-back routes.
Collection rules differ by location, so check with your local council or national scheme. This article gives general guidance and cannot replace local instructions.
Storing used batteries safely at home
Most households keep used batteries for a while before taking them to a drop-off point. A few simple habits reduce risk:
- Keep them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Use a non-metal container, such as a sturdy plastic or cardboard box with a lid. Avoid putting them in a metal tin where terminals could touch.
- Stop terminals contacting each other or metal objects. Many guidance sources suggest covering the terminals of larger or lithium batteries with tape.
- Store them out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not store damaged, swollen or leaking batteries alongside others. If one is swollen, hot or smells unusual, move it carefully to a non-flammable surface outdoors if it is safe to do so, and contact your local waste service or fire service for advice.
Do not try to open batteries, and do not charge a battery that appears damaged.
Where to take them
Typical options include:
- supermarket and shop take-back bins for household batteries, which are offered in many countries
- council recycling centres, which often have separate battery containers
- some kerbside schemes, where you leave batteries in a clear bag on top of the bin on collection day
- retailer take-back when you buy a replacement, which is a legal requirement in some places for certain products
For products with built-in batteries, such as e-bikes and some earbuds, it is usually best to take the whole item to a proper electrical recycling point rather than trying to remove the battery yourself. Vapes with batteries should also go to electrical or specialist collection, not the bin.
Small electricals
Small electrical items such as kettles, toasters, hair dryers, chargers, cables, torches and toys with a plug or battery are often called waste electrical and electronic equipment. They typically contain metals, plastics and circuit boards that are worth recovering, and should not go in the general bin. Where possible:
- check whether it can be repaired or passed on before you discard it
- wipe personal data from phones, tablets and laptops
- remove removable batteries and recycle them separately
- use a shop take-back service, recycling centre or council collection
If you are replacing an appliance, many retailers will collect the old one. For larger items, the wider issue of electronic waste is worth understanding.
Reducing how many you need
The simplest way to cut battery waste is to buy fewer of them. Rechargeable batteries can replace many single-use ones in high-drain items, though they have upfront costs and work better in some devices than in others. The environmental benefit depends on being used many times, so they make sense for things like game controllers and remote controls that you use often, and less sense for a smoke alarm that runs on a long-life battery.
Repairing items also helps. Many devices can be fixed at repair cafes, and borrowing infrequently used tools through a library of things avoids owning a device with its own battery. Choosing mains-powered items for things that sit on a shelf can also help.
What to avoid
- Do not put batteries in recycling or general bins.
- Do not burn batteries or throw them on a fire.
- Do not leave devices charging unattended on soft furnishings, or use chargers that are not suited to the device.
- Do not squash or puncture battery-powered items to make them fit in a bag.
If a bin lorry or sorting site catches fire, the cause is often a battery that was thrown away with ordinary rubbish. The extra few minutes to take them to a collection point is a small cost against that risk.
A quick habit
Keep a small lidded box by the back door or in a cupboard. When a battery dies, put it in the box. When the box is nearly full, take it with the next trip to the shop or recycling centre. This one habit covers the great majority of household batteries safely.