Old Laptop or Power Tool Battery? Do Not Put It in the Trash

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found more than 240 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries at 64 waste management facilities between 2013 and 2020. Those facilities included recycling centers, collection trucks, landfills and scrap and electronics recyclers. The most common sources were batteries from small consumer devices like phones, tablets, laptops, hoverboards and e-cigarettes.

A battery that looks dead can still hold enough charge to start a fire, which is why it never belongs in the trash or the blue bin.

If you have a drawer of old batteries, a dead power tool pack or a laptop that no longer holds a charge, here is how the EPA says to deal with them.

Why the trash and the blue bin are the wrong place

The EPA says lithium-ion batteries in household trash or curbside recycling can be damaged or crushed in transport or in sorting equipment, creating a fire hazard. Municipal waste and recycling facilities are not designed to handle them. Throwing them away also wastes the recoverable materials inside.

It adds that used batteries can still hold enough energy to injure someone or start a fire, and that some discarded batteries look completely drained but still hold a significant charge. So you cannot judge by feel or by whether the device powers on.

Prepare them in three steps

The EPA's recommendations are short:

1. Bag each battery, or each device that contains one, in its own plastic bag.
2. Tape the terminals with non-conductive tape, such as electrical tape.
3. Take them to a proper drop-off, not the curbside bin.

If a battery is damaged, the EPA says it needs special handling and you should contact the manufacturer for instructions.

Where to take them

The EPA tells households to use:

• Certified electronics recyclers.
• Retailers that run takeback programs.
• Your local solid waste or household hazardous waste program.

It points to Earth911 and The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle) for finding drop-off points, and notes that it lists them for information only and does not endorse them. For medium and large batteries, such as those in cars, contact the dealer, salvage yard, manufacturer or installer.

Which goes where depends on the item:

Thinking about buying a product with a battery?

Lithium-ion batteries power a lot of the used items people buy: laptops, phones, cordless tools, scooters, vacuum cleaners. Everything below is my own advice, not the EPA's:

• Ask how old the battery is and whether it holds a charge. A weak battery is a replacement cost.
• Look at the battery and the case. A pack that is swollen, hot to the touch or leaking is a reason to walk away.
• Check for recalls with our five-minute guide, since batteries and chargers are common recall items.
• Make sure you have the right charger, not a cheap lookalike.
• Plan the exit. Decide now where you will take the battery when it finally dies.

For laptops, our guide to the used electronics checklist explains how to check battery health on a Mac or a Windows machine.

What this means in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area

Rules and drop-off sites vary by county and city, so check your local solid waste or household hazardous waste program before you go. I have not opened any local listings for this article. Many electronics stores take small batteries back, and the sites the EPA names can help you find one nearby.

If you are looking for tools or electronics, browse Buy Now or the categories page, and read the help page for how DealsDMV handles pickup and returns.

The bottom line

Do not throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or the recycling bin. Bag them one by one, tape the terminals and take them to a recycler, a retailer takeback or a household hazardous waste site. The EPA's count of more than 240 fires from 2013 to 2020 shows why that matters.

If you know someone clearing out a garage, pass this on before the batteries go out with the rubbish.