How to Recycle Batteries at Home

Toys, cars, and many house hold utilities use batteries, but how do you dispose of the batteries when they are no longer needed? While it may be easy to throw old and used batteries in the trash, disposing of batteries this way can be detrimental and hazardous to the environment. Recycling is an easy alternative that can be done from home.

1. Find a local recycling center that specializes in only recycling batteries. These recycling centers differ from those that recycle plastics, glass, and paper. They are equipped to handle the toxic materials that are inside of batteries. Search for a battery recycling center online at your state website. Do not place batteries in the household recycling containers. They will most likely end up in a landfill if they are picked up by a waste management company. 


2. Recycle car batteries. If an auto mechanic changes the battery then it will probably automatically go to recycling center but if the battery is manually changed at home then take the used battery to the battery recycling center mentioned in step 1.


3. Research a home battery recycling program that operates through the mail.  Research these programs online or at the local library branch. A mail-in recycle program will provide a more convenient way to recycle batteries and will alleviate the travel time and gas cost for driving to a recycle center. The mail-in recycle company will need to be a reputable company. Battery Solutions is a mail-in recycling center that provides a mailing kit called “iRecycle”. Complete the address form online and they will send a kit in which the batteries will be mailed in. Follow all instructions carefully pertaining to the kit. Battery Solutions only take dry-cell batteries. Do not send in batteries that are not listed on the dry cell battery forum.