What to Do with Old Rechargeable Batteries: A Safety and Sustainability Guide

The current situation for rechargeable battery disposal around the world is a dumpster fire, and I mean that quite literally.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power countless devices in our homes: smartphones, laptops, power tools, headphones, and smart home gadgets. Yet most consumers have no idea what to do with these batteries when they are finished with them. The result? Thousands of batteries end up in garbage trucks and landfills every year, where they spark fires that endanger workers and communities. More than 5,000 fires occur each year in U.S. recycling facilities alone, according to the Association nationale des déchets et du recyclage.

The Awareness Gap

Consumer insights recherche from UL Standards & Engagement reveals a troubling disconnect: over half (52%) of U.S. consumers don’t know where to take rechargeable batteries for recycling. Even more concerning, 36% throw batteries directly in the trash, while another 30% mix them with other recyclables — both dangerous practices.

But here’s the encouraging part: 79% say that having a convenient drop-off option would make them more likely to recycle batteries. People want to do the right thing; they just need to know how.

Currently, consumers are left to search for guidance on their own. When they do look, some are turning to local or state government websites (14%) or retailers (12%), but without clear answers, they often discard devices and batteries improperly, or leave them sitting in drawers, where connection with coins, paperclips, and other metal objects can create a short circuit and potentially cause a fire.

The Dangerous Consequences

The risks of improper battery disposal are real and escalating. In December 2024, a lithium-ion battery caused a garbage truck to explode in a Chicago suburb. In New York, the Department of Sanitation reported more than 20 garbage truck fires from lithium-ion batteries that same year. These aren’t isolated incidents, nor are they limited to the U.S. In the UK, a materials recovery facility was put out of commission for six months after a January 2025 fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in a vaping device. Almost immediately after reopening, the same facility was hit by another fire started by a vape battery the following July.

The problem is physics: garbage truck compactors crush batteries, which can trigger thermal runaway, an uncontrollable self-heating state that can lead to smoke, fire, and even explosion. Workers, equipment, and facilities are all at risk when batteries end up in the wrong place.

Where to Take Old Rechargeable Batteries

The good news? Solutions exist. Organizations like The Battery Network maintain searchable databases of drop-off locations nationwide. Locations in the database include many major hardware and electronics stores, including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Staples, and Best Buy, in addition to municipal drop-off sites. Use The Battery Network’s finder tool to find and verify a drop-off location near you.

Some manufacturers currently provide buyback and trade-in programs, giving consumers an incentive to recycle when shopping for new devices. Pomme, Samsunget Google all offer trade-in credit on eligible devices, as well as recycling for non-eligible devices.

Safety is Sustainability

Lithium-ion batteries contain valuable materials (lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other critical minerals) that can be extracted and reused when recycled properly. But if these materials are improperly discarded in landfills, they can leach into groundwater or create toxic fumes when ruptured. Recycling isn’t just about safety; it’s economically smart and environmentally essential.