Storage.com
Clear the clutter. Keep what matters.
Compare U.S. storage units for the furniture and seasonal gear you want to keep after a cleanout.
Compare nearby storage unitsBatteries recycling
How to Recycle Lithium-Ion Batteries
Rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion / Li-Po) batteries from phones, laptops, power tools, drones, and portable electronics. Removable packs and whole devices both recycle; large vehicle traction packs and oversized e-bike modules need EV or medium-format programs, not a storefront tub.
Check local acceptance$0 at consumer drop-off; trade-in credit may apply for working devicesLast reviewed September 29, 2026
Quick answer
Never put a lithium-ion battery, or anything with a battery sealed inside, in the trash or curbside recycling. Tape terminals or bag each pack, then drop it at a Battery Network site such as Home Depot or Lowe's, or at your household hazardous waste program. Vapes, singing greeting cards, electric toothbrushes, wireless earbuds, and kids' light-up shoes all hold lithium cells. Swollen or damaged packs need special handling, not a normal retail bin. Full EV traction packs belong under EV Batteries. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- $0 at consumer drop-off; trade-in credit may apply for working devices
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Power the device off before you remove a pack
- 2Remove the battery only if it slides or unclips easily; do not pry glued phone or tablet packs yourself
- 3Cover exposed terminals with electrical, packing, or duct tape, or place each pack in its own plastic bag
- 4Bag soft pouch cells in individual bags (bubble bags are preferred when available)
- 5Keep packs cool, dry, and away from metal keys, coins, and other batteries
- 6Check every dead gadget before it goes in a bin: if it lights up, plays sound, vibrates, or charges, it has a lithium battery inside. Pull out any battery that slides out and bag it or tape its terminals
- 7Use non-conductive tape such as clear packing tape or electrical tape on terminals; skip masking and painter's tape
- 8Leave sealed-in batteries (earbuds, electric toothbrushes, singing cards, light-up shoes) in the item and take the whole item to an e-waste or household hazardous waste drop-off that lists it
- 9For a swollen, damaged, defective, or recalled battery, do not use a standard retail collection bin. Contact the device or battery manufacturer, an authorized service location, or local household hazardous-waste program for its specific handling instructions; store it away from flammable material while arranging that route and call 911 for an imminent fire risk
- 10Call ahead for e-bike or scooter packs; many exceed the ~11 lb / ~300 Wh retail bin limit
Where to Recycle
- Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle) drop-off boxes at Home Depot, Lowe's, and partner retailers
- Municipal household hazardous waste facilities
- Electronics retailers for whole devices (confirm loose-pack rules; Best Buy loose packs are CA/NY and under 100 Wh only)
- Carrier and phone stores for devices still containing the pack
Special Instructions
EPA says not to put Li-ion batteries or devices that contain them in household garbage or municipal recycling bins, because a damaged or crushed battery creates a fire hazard. Hidden batteries are the ones people miss. Check these before you toss them: disposable vapes and e-cigarettes, singing and musical greeting cards, electric toothbrushes, wireless earbuds and headphones, smart watches and fitness trackers, power banks, remote controls, handheld and mini fans, kids' light-up shoes and toys, handheld games, e-readers, and smoke detectors. Tape terminals and/or bag packs separately. For a swollen, damaged, defective, or recalled battery, do not use a standard retail collection bin; contact the manufacturer, an authorized service location, or local household hazardous-waste program for its specific handling instructions. The Battery Network says damaged or defective batteries never go in the trash, water, home recycling bins, or its collection boxes, and most drop-off locations do not take them. Vehicle traction packs use manufacturer, dealer, shop, or salvage-yard routes.
Environmental Impact
Li-ion packs contain cobalt, nickel, lithium, graphite, and copper that recyclers recover for new cells. Leaving them in trash or blue bins risks fires when trucks compact loads or MRF equipment crushes devices. Fire Rover counted 448 publicly reported battery fires at U.S. and Canadian waste and recycling facilities in 2025, the most since it began tracking in 2016 and up from 430 in 2024. September 2026 added two more truck fires: a lithium-ion battery pack likely started a garbage truck fire in North Smithfield, Rhode Island on September 8, and a crushed lithium-ion battery set a South Bend, Indiana recycling truck on fire.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Trade in or recycle the whole device when the pack is glued in
- Manufacturer power-tool pack trade-up programs
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
- EPA: Used household batteries
- CalRecycle: Battery stewardship
- California SB 501: Responsible Battery Recycling Act
- RecycleFind: EV lithium-ion batteries
- RecycleFind: Phone/tablet batteries
- EPA: Used lithium-ion batteries
- EPA: Lithium-ion battery recycling
- The Battery Network: FAQs (vapes, damaged batteries, tape)
- The Battery Network: drop-off locator
- NFPA: Lithium-ion battery safety
- Oregon Metro: Items with hidden batteries
- RILA: Items that may spark fires (hidden-battery examples)
- Resource Recycling: Fire Rover 2025 battery fire data
- Turn to 10: North Smithfield trash truck fire, Sept 8, 2026
- WSBT: South Bend battery fire and disposal reminder
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Laptop, phone, and tablet batteries (loose if already removed, or inside the device)
- Power-tool battery packs within retailer weight and watt-hour limits
- E-bike and scooter packs only when the site accepts medium-format / high-energy packs (call ahead; many HD bins do not)
- Drone, RC, speaker, and headphone Li-ion packs
- Portable power banks
- Electronics with sealed batteries (earbuds, electric toothbrushes, smart watches, singing greeting cards) at an e-waste or household hazardous waste site that lists small electronics
Not Accepted
- Household trash or curbside recycling bins
- Full EV / hybrid traction battery packs (see EV Batteries)
- Batteries that are actively smoking, on fire, or too hot to handle (call local fire or HHW for instructions)
- Untaped packs loose with metal scrap
- Damaged or swollen packs in a standard retail bin without staff approval
- Hidden-battery items in the trash or blue bin (vapes, singing cards, electric toothbrushes, earbuds, light-up shoes)
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: $0 at consumer drop-off; trade-in credit may apply for working devices
Hazardous Components
- Flammable organic electrolyte
- Cobalt and nickel compounds
- Lithium salts
FAQs
What should I do if my lithium-ion battery is swollen?
Stop charging and using it. Do not puncture, flatten, or remove a glued phone pack yourself. Place the device or pack away from flammables and take it to HHW or a damaged-battery program. Never put it in trash, curbside recycling, or a normal retail drop-off bin.
Why do Li-ion batteries start fires in trash trucks?
Compactors and sorting equipment can crush or short a cell. A damaged Li-ion pack can enter thermal runaway and ignite nearby trash or recyclables. That is why EPA tells households to use separate battery or HHW collection.
How do I know if a battery is lithium-ion?
Look for Li-ion, Li-Po, or a nominal 3.6-3.7V marking. Power-tool packs and phone batteries are almost always Li-ion. If you are unsure and it is rechargeable, treat it as Li-ion and keep it out of the trash.
Where can I drop off lithium-ion batteries near me?
Use the Battery Network locator (formerly Call2Recycle), or check Home Depot, Lowe's, and your city HHW site. Confirm size limits for e-bike packs before you drive over. Do not assume Best Buy takes loose packs nationwide.
Can I recycle an EV car battery here?
No. Household Battery Network bins and big-box drop-offs are for consumer packs. EV traction batteries need dealer, manufacturer, or EV-battery recycler programs. See the EV Batteries category.
Is lithium-ion the same as single-use lithium?
No. Lithium-ion is rechargeable. Lithium primary (often marked simply lithium) is single-use and still a fire risk. Both need taped terminals and battery drop-off, not trash. Primary cells often fail standard rechargeable-only retail bins.
Which everyday items have hidden lithium-ion batteries?
Disposable vapes, singing greeting cards, electric toothbrushes, wireless earbuds, smart watches, power banks, mini fans, remote controls, and kids' light-up shoes all carry lithium cells. Treat anything that charges, lights up, or plays sound on its own as a battery item and keep it out of the trash and blue bin.
Can I put a singing greeting card or electric toothbrush in the trash?
No. Both hold a battery that can break open and start a fire. Take the whole item to an e-waste or household hazardous waste drop-off, or pull the battery out if it comes out easily and drop it at a Battery Network site.
How common are battery fires in trash and recycling trucks?
Fire Rover counted 448 publicly reported battery fires at U.S. and Canadian waste and recycling facilities in 2025, the most since 2016. September 2026 brought truck fires in North Smithfield, Rhode Island and South Bend, Indiana, both tied to lithium-ion batteries in the load.
How do I prep lithium-ion batteries for drop-off?
Bag each battery or tape its terminals with clear packing tape or electrical tape. Skip masking and painter's tape. Keep the batteries in a cool, dry spot until you drop them off.
Related recycling guides
- How to recycle Smartwatches & Fitness Trackers
- How to recycle UPS Battery Backups
- How to recycle E-Bike Batteries
- How to recycle Power-Tool & High-Energy Batteries
- How to recycle Small Appliances
- How to recycle Button Cell Batteries
- How to recycle Alkaline Batteries
- How to recycle Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries (NiMH)
- How to recycle Lead-Acid Batteries (Small)
- How to recycle Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (NiCd)
Recycle lithium-ion batteries
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more batteries materials.