No matter where you go today, rechargeable batteries seem to be everywhere. Due to their increasing use in consumer electronics and vehicles, these batteries are only going to become a larger part of our lives—and a larger portion of the waste stream. Many people may not give a second thought to tossing rechargeable batteries in the trash or recycling bin, but these items are more hazardous than you might expect.
Batteries that fall into the “rechargeable” category include lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, nickel-cadmium and lead acid (car and boat batteries). Rechargeable batteries are commonly found in household electronics, toys, handheld power tools and appliances.
These types of batteries may become damaged during transport or processing, which can lead to fires that put equipment and workers in danger. As a result, rechargeable batteries should not be placed in your household trash or single stream recycling, and should not be included in your bulk item collection set-outs.
For proper disposal, rechargeable batteries may be brought to any of the County’s three drop-off facilities to be recycled. Many retailers also accept these items for recycling; a list of local drop-off sites can be found at mdrecycles.org or on the Call2Recycle website. As an extra precaution, you may place your batteries in a flame-retardant bag or bucket for transport. If you have a battery that is already highly damaged, call the Baltimore County Fire Department at 410-887-4500 for guidance.
“Regular” single-use alkaline batteries (such as AA, AAA, etc.) are not classified as hazardous in Maryland and may safely be disposed of in the trash.
Visit the County’s website to learn more about Baltimore County’s household hazardous waste recycling and disposal programs.