Household Battery Fact Sheet
Americans purchase over four billion dry cell batteries every year. This table shows the most common household batteries:
| Type of Battery | Common Uses | Hazardous Component | Disposal Recycling Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Zinc | Many household uses | * | Household Garbage |
| Alkaline | Many household uses | * | Household Garbage |
| Mercuric Oxide (Button) | Medical equipment | Mercury | Recycling Program** |
| Silver Oxide (Button) | Calculators, watches, cameras | Silver | Recycling Program** |
| Zinc-air (Button) | Hearing aids, pagers, cameras | Mercury | Recycling Program** |
| Lithium | Computers, cameras | Lithium | Recycling Program** |
| Type of Battery | Common Uses | Hazardous Component | Disposal Recycling Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Sealed Lead-Acid | Tools, camcorders | Lead | Recycling Program** |
| Alkaline | Many household uses | *** | Household Garbage |
| Nickel-Cadmium | Smoke alarms, tools, household uses | Cadmium | Recycling Program** |
| Nickel-Zinc | Cellular and cordless phones, cordless power tools, laptop computers, PDAs, two-way radios, camcorders, remote control toys, and other cordless products | **** | Recycling Program** |
* Since 1993, domestically produced alkaline and carbon zinc batteries contain no added mercury and are essentially mercury-free.
**Call your local recycling coordinator to find out which batteries are recyclable in your community.
***Since early 1995, rechargeable alkaline batteries contain no added mercury and are essentially mercury-free.
****A non-toxic, safe, high performance rechargeable Ni-Zn battery.
Concerns
Almost everyone uses and discards batteries into the waste stream. Although waste batteries are a small amount of the solid waste stream, they are a concentrated source of some types of heavy metals. The main constituents of concern for human health and the environment include: cadmium, lead and mercury.
Alternatives
Reusable/rechargeable batteries are preferred over single-use batteries provided the rechargeable batteries are recycled after their useful life is over.
Most communities in New York State have a voluntary, drop-off program for collecting household batteries; a few have curbside pick-up. Contact your local recycling coordinator for information on your community's program.
Resources
General Information
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-7253
(518) 402-8704
Communities with a Battery Recycling Program
Local Recycling Coordinator - Check your local listing or call (518) 402-8704. Our website also lists names and numbers of local recycling coordinators.
Battery Recycling
The list below is not a complete listing of potential vendors. Inclusion of a facility on this list does not constitute approval or endorsement of that facility or provide any assurances with regard to quality of services provided or the facility's environmental compliance history.
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Battery
Recycling Corporation
Eastern Region
100 Parkwood Circle, Suite 450
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
678-419-9990
Website: www.rbrc.org
Button Battery Recycling
Bethlehem Apparatus
890 Front Street
P.O. Box Y
Hellertown, PA 18055
(610) 838-7034
Website: www.bethlehemapparatus.com
The following stores recycle batteries - call first and ask. Check your local telephone directory or the company's website to find the store nearest you.
Staples - www.staples.com
Sears Hardware - www.sears.com
Home Depot - www.homedepot.com
Target - www.target.com
Walmart - www.walmartstores.com
Verizon Wireless - www.verizonwireless.com
Cingular - www.cingular.com
