Housekeeping · Battery disposal safety

Protect and recycle used lithium and button batteries

Used batteries can still short-circuit or cause fires. Identify the chemistry, isolate contacts and use an approved collection point.

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US EPA advises against throwing lithium and rechargeable batteries into ordinary trash or mixed recycling. Cover the terminals with nonconductive tape or separately bag each battery and follow your local collection rules.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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Read markings to identify lithium, Li-ion, alkaline and other battery chemistries.
Keep spent cells, especially button batteries, securely out of children's reach.
For lithium batteries, use nonmetallic insulating tape on contacts or place each battery in its own bag.
Do not puncture or dismantle a swollen, leaking, hot or damaged battery; seek manufacturer or specialist disposal guidance.
Check your local dedicated battery collection or hazardous-waste options for each chemistry.
Never place lithium, rechargeable or button batteries in general trash or mixed curbside recycling; follow local rules.

US EPAUsed Household Batteries ↗EPA differentiates battery chemistries, child swallowing hazards, local recycling options, and terminal isolation.US EPAUsed Lithium-Ion Batteries ↗EPA advises against trash and curbside recycling, recommends terminal tape or separate bags, and cautions against damaged battery handling.Wikimedia CommonsWikimedia Commons ↗Previous cover image source retained for attribution. Credit: Lead holder / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Original photograph unmodified; no endorsement implied. · License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International · License details: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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