Used batteries should never be placed loose in a general-waste or household recycling bin. Even apparently flat batteries can retain energy, and lithium batteries can ignite if they are crushed or damaged during collection and sorting.
Quick answer: take portable household batteries to a retailer collection point, a council collection service where offered, or a household recycling centre. Keep batteries dry and separate, and ideally tape the terminals of lithium batteries.
Where to take household batteries
Many supermarkets and larger shops that sell significant quantities of batteries provide free take-back points for portable batteries. These commonly accept AA, AAA, 9V, button cells and rechargeable battery packs.
Your council may also collect batteries at the kerbside, but the presentation rules vary. Some ask residents to place batteries in a small bag on top of a bin; others prohibit this. Never copy another council’s method without checking your own.
Household recycling centres normally provide a designated battery container. Vehicle and industrial batteries require the site’s specified route and should not be mixed with ordinary portable batteries.
Prepare batteries safely
Keep used batteries away from heat, water, metal objects and children. Store them in a cool, dry place in a non-metal container until you can recycle them.
The UK government advises that the terminals of lithium batteries should ideally be taped to reduce fire risk. Do not crush, puncture or dismantle a battery.
A swollen, leaking, hot or damaged lithium battery needs extra care. Move away from combustible material if it is safe to do so and seek instructions from the manufacturer, retailer, council or recycling facility before transporting it.
Batteries built into electrical items
If a battery cannot be removed safely, recycle the whole item as electrical waste. Examples can include disposable vapes, calculators, toothbrushes and small rechargeable devices. Do not force open an appliance or put the complete item in a battery box.
Before recycling phones, laptops or other data-bearing devices, back up anything you need, sign out of accounts and erase personal data using the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Official sources
Sources checked: July 2026. Local services and national requirements can change.