Best way to dispose of lithium batteries

How do you dispose of a lithium battery?

Check for the word “lithium” marked on the battery. Do not put button-cell, coin, or lithium single-use batteries in the trash or municipal recycling bins. Check with Earth 911.com to find a recycling location near you. Button-cell or coin batteries can be a potential swallowing hazard. Be certain to store them out of the reach of young children.

Where can I drop off a used lithium ion battery?

Instead, EPA recommends that all household lithium batteries be dropped off at battery collection sites (e.g., often located at electronics retailers) or household hazardous waste collection facilities for proper management. The EPA Used Lithium-Ion Batteries web page offers resources to find a battery recycling location near you.

Can lithium ion batteries be recycled?

Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NOT go in household garbage or recycling bins. Lithium-ion batteries SHOULD be taken to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points. To prevent fires, tape battery terminals and/or place lithium-ion batteries in separate plastic bags.

How do you store used lithium batteries?

Store the batteries in a cool, dry place until disposal. It's best to avoid extreme temperatures, since batteries can be reactive. Similarly, it's best to keep the batteries dry. Place your used lithium batteries in a pantry, cabinet, or closet. Take your battery to the collection site.

How do you care for a used lithium battery?

EPA recommends that households who generate used lithium batteries treat them with care, isolate the terminals (e.g., cover the terminals with non-metallic tape while keeping the label legible, or individually bag batteries), and protect the batteries from damage.

Where can I recycle a dead battery?

Call2Recycle is one of the companies that offer mail-in battery recycling kits. The kit comes with a container that you can use to collect dead single-use batteries. When the container gets full, you can mail your alkaline batteries to a recycling center.