Batteries power our lives. From laptops to vehicles, to watches and toys, nearly everything that needs portable power has a battery in it. What should you do with these items, and the batteries inside, when they no longer pack a punch?
![various batteries](/sites/default/files/styles/1024_x_601/public/2022-04/batteries%20hero.png?itok=jbuW92h8)
Dry-cells, rechargeables, and automotive batteries all must be disposed of in specific ways to keep the environment clean and safe.
Watch this short video for an overview on the topic, and read on for more nuanced details on battery disposal.
Single-use batteries are used in small electronics such as remote controls, flashlights, and other household items. These are designated 9-volt, D, C, AA, and AAA batteries. Americans purchase over three billion dry-cell batteries per year!
Dry-cell batteries can be thrown in the trash legally in most states, since the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act passed in 1996, which phased out the use of mercury in alkaline batteries.
To avoid creating more landfill trash with batteries, replace them with rechargeable alternatives whenever you can.
Rechargeable batteries commonly found in laptops, phones, cameras, and cordless power tools should never be thrown in the trash, as they have the potential to harm the environment if not properly disposed. Most rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times, but when they no longer hold a charge — recycle them.
If every Texas household recycled five rechargeable batteries a year, we could keep more than 48 million batteries out of landfills!
Do not put these batteries and battery-equipped products in the trash or your curbside recycling bin! To reduce the health and safety risks from mismanagement, these batteries should be recycled through a designated battery recycling location, or check with your local Household Hazardous Waste program.
Improperly disposing of a lead-acid battery found in cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other high-power equipment is illegal in Texas, so always dispose of your old automotive batteries at an approved drop-off site. Texas law requires businesses that sell these batteries to accept your old one when you purchase a new battery, so your local auto parts retailer or shop should accept these batteries for recycling.