Battery Recovery

Batteries Don’t Belong in Your Bin

Improperly discarded batteries are a leading cause of fires in trash trucks, recycling facilities, and landfills. These fires put drivers, employees, equipment, and our community at serious risk.

Never place batteries in your curbside trash cart, recycling cart, or commercial dumpster.

Batteries require battery recovery at certified collection sites where they can be safely handled.

What To Do Instead

Before heading to a drop-off location:

Tape the terminals with clear tape to prevent sparks.

Place batteries in a small bag or container.

Use a trusted locator to find a certified battery recovery site near you.

Small item. Big fire risk. Keep batteries out of your bins.

Where To Take Batteries

Mail-Back Options

Some manufacturers offer mail-back programs. Always follow postal guidelines before shipping batteries.

If the Battery Is Inside a Device

Can’t remove it? Take the entire device to a recommended recovery site so it can be safely taken apart.

Why This Matters

Batteries power everyday items—phones, tools, toys, smoke detectors, even greeting cards. But when crushed, overheated, or damaged, they can enter thermal runaway—a chain reaction that creates intense heat, fire, and even explosions.

Battery fires happen in three critical places:

In the Home – Fires in carts can spread quickly, risking injury and property damage.
On the Truck – Compaction inside a moving truck can ignite a fire in seconds.
At the Facility – Thousands of fires each year are linked to improperly discarded batteries, causing major damage and service disruption.