To find out how to dispose of your used batteries while respecting our environment, call 1800-8BATTERY or visit rbrc.org

Below are a few additional safety tips to keep in mind when disposing of your batteries:

Battery Recycling

Lead-Acid Automobile Batteries
Today over 95 percent of all lead-acid batteries are sent off to be recycled. As required by most state laws, retailers that sell lead-acid batteries collects used batteries for recycling. Important to note, a typical lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic.

Non-Automotive Lead-Based Batteries
Gel cells and sealed lead-acid batteries are commonly used to power industrial equipment, emergency lighting, and alarm systems. An automotive store or a local waste agency may accept the batteries for recycling.

Dry-Cell Batteries
Dry-cell batteries include alkaline and carbon zinc (9-volt, D, C, AA, AAA), mercuric-oxide (button or coin cell, some cylindrical and rectangular), silver-oxide and zinc-air (button or coin cell), and lithium (9-volt, C, AA, coin, button, rechargeable).

Alkaline and Zinc-Carbon Batteries
Alkaline batteries, the everyday household batteries used in flashlights, remote controls, and other appliances. It is currently legal to dispose of dry cell batteries in the regular garbage in every state, aside from California. California passed a series of laws called the California Universal Waste Rules, that requires these bratteries to be recycled.  Several reclamation companies now process these batteries.

Button-Cell or Coin-Cell Batteries
Most small, round “button-cell” type batteries found in items such as watches and hearing aids contain mercury, silver, cadmium, lithium, or other heavy metals as their main component. Button cells are increasingly targeted for recycling because of the value of recoverable materials, their small size, and their easy handling relative to other battery types. See earth911.com for a helpful guide to finding recycling centers near you.

Rechargeable Batteries
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit public service organization, targets four kinds of rechargeable batteries for recycling: nickel-cadmium (Ni-CD), nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, and small-sealed lead. Its Call2Recycle! program offers various recycling plans for communities, retailers, businesses, and public agencies.  They have an Internet directory, searchable by ZIP code, for consumers to find recycling locations for dry-cell batteries and cell phones