


Two resources for finding a recycler are the Earth 911 databaseand Call2Recycle. Send individual batteries to specialized battery recyclers or retailers that are participating in takeback services or contact your local solid waste or household hazardous waste program for more options. Li-ion batteries that are easily separated from the product (e.g., power tools): Find a recycling location near youto properly dispose of Li-ion batteries. Li-ion batteries in electronics: Send electronic devices containing Li-ion batteries to certified electronics recyclers, participating retailers and recyclers in electronics takeback services or contact your local solid waste or household hazardous waste collection program for more options. These batteries may be difficult to distinguish from common alkaline battery sizes, but can also have specialized shapes (e.g., button cells or coin batteries) for specific equipment, such as some types of cameras: look for the word “lithium” on the battery to help identify them.ĮPA recommendation: Find a location to recycle Li-ion batteries and products that contain Li-ion batteries using one of the suggested links do not put them in the trash or municipal recycling bins.Made with lithium metal and are commonly used in products such as cameras, watches, remote controls, handheld games and smoke detectors.Li-ion batteries, or those contained in electronic devices, should therefore be recycled at certified battery electronics recyclers that accept batteries rather than being discarded in the trash or put in municipal recycling bins. Geological Survey website.Īdditionally, if the battery or electronic device that contains the battery is disposed of in the trash or placed in the municipal recycling bin with household recyclables such as plastic, paper or glass, it may become damaged or crushed in transport or from processing and sorting equipment, creating a fire hazard. For more information on critical minerals go to the U.S. When these batteries are disposed of in the trash, we lose these critical resources outright.

Critical minerals are raw materials that are economically and strategically important to the U.S., have a high risk of their supply being disrupted and for which there are no easy substitutes.
Nearest battery store to my location portable#
This miniaturization has allowed for a rapid increase in the consumer adoption of smaller portable and cordless products.Ĭlick graphic to enlarge it.Li-ion batteries are made of materials such as cobalt, graphite and lithium which are considered critical minerals. Lithium batteries can be smaller and lighter than other types of batteries while holding the same amount of energy.

“Energy density” means the amount of energy that a system stores in an amount of space. The increased demand for Li-ion batteries in the marketplace can be traced largely to the high “energy density” of this battery chemistry. If not properly managed at the end of their useful life, they can cause harm to human health or the environment. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are used in many products such as electronics, toys, wireless headphones, handheld power tools, small and large appliances, electric vehicles and electrical energy storage systems. To prevent fires, tape battery terminals and/or place lithium-ion batteries in separate plastic bags. Lithium-ion batteries SHOULD be taken to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points. Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NOT go in household garbage or recycling bins.
