Which batteries to Toss or Recycle

Great article on MSN about recycling batteries.

And here’s a quick summary from the Environmental Health & Safety Online about how to dispose of specific batteries:

Battery Type
Common Name
Sizes Available
Examples of Use
Disposal classification
Proper Disposal
Alkaline
(manganese)
Coppertop, Alkaline
AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V
Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls
non-hazardous waste
Place in the trash
(normal municipal waste). Exceptions:
California which  requires non-households to dispose of these batteries in accordance
with the California Universal Waste Rules.
Button
Mercuric Oxide, Silver Oxide, Lithium, Alkaline, Zinc-Air
Sizes vary
Watches, hearing aids, toys, greeting cards, remote controls
hazardous waste
Carbon Zinc
"Classic", Heavy Duty, General Purpose, All Purpose, Power Cell
AAA, AA, C, D

6V, 9V
Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, smoke alarms, remote controls, transistor radios, garage door openers
non-hazardous waste
Place in the trash
(normal municipal waste). Exceptions:
California - 
requires non-households to dispose of these batteries in
accordance with the California Universal Waste Rules. Also,
Minnesota (Hennipen County only)
requires these batteries be disposed as a
hazardous waste.
Lithium / Lithium Ion
Usually has "lithium" label on the battery
3V, 6V, 3V button
Cameras, calculators, computer memory back-up, tennis shoes
non-hazardous waste
Nickel-Cadmium
(Rechargeable)
Either unlabeled or labeled "Ni-Cd"
AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V
Flashlights, toys, cellular phones, power tools, computer packs

hazardous waste
Nickel Metal Hydride
(Rechargeable)
Either unlabeled or labeled "Ni-Li"
or "Ni-Hydride)
AAA, AA, C, D, 6V, 9V
Flashlights, toys, cellular phones, power tools, computer packs

non-hazardous waste - except in California, which
requires non-households to dispose of these batteries in accordance
with the California Universal Waste Rules.
Safe
for disposal in the normal municipal waste stream.  These
batteries are also acceptable for recycling by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's (RBRC) Battery Recycling Program.
Reusable Alkaline Manganese (Rechargeable)
Renewal
AAA, AA, C, D
Flashlights, calculators, toys, clocks, radios, remote controls
Place in the trash
Sealed Lead Acid
(Rechargeable)

 
"Gel," VRB, AGM, Cyclone, El Power, Dynasty, Gates, Lithonia, Saft, Panasonic, Yuasa
Multiples of 2 Volts: 2V, 6V, 12V
Video cameras, power tools, wheelchairs, ATV's, metal detectors, clocks, cameras
hazardous waste
Lead Acid Vehicle Batteries
Autozone, Sears Die Hard, Yuasa
12V, 6V
Cars, trucks, motorcycles
hazardous waste
Take back to place of purchase

    		•  Most places that sell car batteries will also accept
    them for recycling. There may be a fee for this service.
    		• A metal recycler may pay you for your car battery. Look
    in the yellow pages under "Recycling Centers" for a list of
    recyclers.
    Silver Oxide
    Panasonic Silver Oxide
    Sizes vary
    Watches, hearing aids, toys, greeting cards, remote controls
    hazardous waste
    Non-Consumers must dispose of these batteries in full compliance
    with the hazardous waste rules. Consumers are covered by the Household exemption
    under RCRA which
    allows for these batteries to be disposed of into the municipal waste
    stream. These batteries are also acceptable for

    recycling by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's (RBRC) Battery Recycling Program.
     

    One Comment

    1. Cody Striffler says:
      September 11, 2010 at 8:04 pm

      I really do love your updates, Great site! Finally someone who puts the effort put into the site. Please keep updating as much as you can The feel to this site is great, I do like the color scheme you used on this site.

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