# Disposing of batteries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-batteries/458713>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 3, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-batteries/458713 "2008-08-03T17:17:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-batteries/458713/1 "2008-08-03T17:17:35Z")

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OK, I’m savvy enough to know I should not throw my batteries into the land fill. But I’m not sure what I should be doing with them. Do most communities have a recycle center for batteries?

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**Author:** ![B\_A\_Bay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@B\_A\_Bay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B_A_Bay)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-batteries/458713/2 "2008-08-03T17:33:35Z")

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Our libraries have them

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**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-batteries/458713/3 "2008-08-03T17:55:10Z")

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I work for a fire alarm company. All fire alarms have backup batteries. We also work on emergency lighting. The companies that supply us our new batteries will take the old ones in for recycling.

I am sure that the battery supply companies where you live will do the same

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**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-batteries/458713/4 "2008-08-03T19:01:23Z")

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I rinse out a plastic gallon-size milk container and cut a larger opening in the top/side (leaving the handle intact). I put it in the cabinet where I store the good batteries, and when I replace batteries, I toss the bad ones in the jug. When the jug gets full, I take it to the hazardous waste disposal site.

My city web site has instructions on Home Hazardous waste disposal.