In the US, Staples, Best Buy, Batteries Plus, etc. all take them.
this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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Best Buy would probably be my best bet, thanks!
Please report back and update your post so others can see in the future.
I'll be sure to!
Batteries plus told me to throw them in the trash can
I'm convinced that entire company is a scam. I wouldn't be surprised to find theyre a front for something.
In the US, we have stores called "Batteries Plus." I have no idea where my recycling center is, but these people take all your batteries. I have a box for bad batteries with a tester nearby and go unload occasionally. They seem happy enough to take them.
I searched up the store, the downside is that they’re all extremely far, even by car, so I cannot go there :( Thanks for the suggestion though :)
Doh! Sorry man.
Home Depot?
In the US, Home Depot and Lowes have drop-off bins for rechargeable batteries by the front door.
Try to tape up at least one end of the battery or one lead from the battery, to prevent discharge fires.
When you say taping up one end of the battery, do you mean the battery itself or the connections/plugs? My headphone battery is one of those plug-in connectors, my calculator battery is like a nokia battery.
Connections/Plugs. That way the terminals on the batterys/plugs can't touch and spark/overheat. Also why you shouldn't store batteries, especially button cell batteries, in bulk piles/bags. Keep them organized so the ends aren't touching.
Got it! I’ll wrap the ends with electrical tape then (I assume that’s what you use electric tape for), thank you for the tip!
That's a good use, yes. Electrical tape doesn't conduct electricity, so it's used in all kinds of electronic repairs. You're welcome
My town has previously distributed tape dispensers specifically to tape up battery ends, for exactly the scenario of tossing them loosely into bags. It's a good idea, although they seemed to have stopped distributing for some reason. It was simple cellophane tape, like for mending paper, but wider than normal.
Any plastic tape should work. Electrical tape is just extra sticky and extra rubbery to be even moreso safe with electronics and last longer. But any nonconductive tape should work. If I'm taping a battery I plan to use again one day, I'll use brown masking tape or blue painters tape so it's easier to remove.
Lots of phone/laptop repair shops have to dispose of batteries anyway, some will just take them for you. May want to call ahead and such though. I've had some luck with best buy etc too.
You can dispose batteries at Best Buy? Do you know where in the Best Buy you would do that in?
Used to be bins right inside the door. If they're gone I'd just ask customer service.
Like trash bins? I do know those are in the entrance.
No, bins marked for recycling batteries, phones, etc.
I don't know if they were/are at every store though.
Oh okay! I’ll look out for them if I decide to dispose my batteries there.
Standard recycling centers should take them.
Country dependant
Without knowing where you live (at least the country...) your guess is as good as mine.
Where I'm from I can drop old batteries off at every electronics retailer and they have to recycle/dispose of them.
Oh sorry about that,
right now, I live in the US, specifically in California if that helps :)
https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Electronics/eRecycle/
That should list all nearby recycling centers. They don't mention batteries specifically, but this sub-page does and it links there, so I'm assuming batteries are considered part of the e-waste: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/epr/batteries/
Found a recycling spot! A bit far, but I recognize the area so I can get there during a weekend or something. I’ll see if they accept batteries.
Thank you so much for helping me!
Contact your local council.
In Germany I bring them to a "Wertstoffhof" (recycling station), open 24/7, they're all over the country (not all are 24/7 open, but they are daily open)
Hmm, that's difficult. Some electronic hardware stores take in batteries (Microcenter comes to mind, but I bet others do something similar). I think some libraries take in batteries too, but I don't recall where I heard that, or if i just misremembered - could be worth checking your local library if they do.
If nothing else, universities basically always have a battery disposal, but the bins themselves can be frustratingly difficult to find sometimes