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Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: (831) 459-2553
Fax: (831) 459-3209
Email: ehs@ucsc.edu

Waste Management
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Maintained by ehs@ucsc.edu
Last Reviewed on Nov 19, 2009

Battery Recycling Program

Home Waste Management Pubs Battery Recycling Program

Need to recycle your batteries?

How to Start Recycling
Frequently Asked Questions
Battery Bin Locations (excel file)

Choose your category of battery!	Includes the following types:
Corroded Batteries	All batteries that are broken, leaking, or corroded.
Dry Cell Batteries	Alkaline, Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Iron, Zinc Air, and Carbon Zinc
Rechargeable Batteries	Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Lead Acid (Pb/acid), and Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
Lead Acid & Wet Cell Batteries	Sealed Lead Acid, Gel Cell, and UPS
Mercury & Silver Batteries	Mercuric Oxide, Button Cells, Silver (II) Oxide, and Alkaline with Mercury
Lithium & Magnesium Batteries	Lithium (Li) Metal, Lithium Button Cells, and Magnesium (Mg)
Unknown Batteries	Batteries you have no clue what they are!

Be sure to click the image in each category to learn how to recycle.

Corroded Batteries

All batteries that are broken, leaking, or corroded.

Click image to recycle.

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Dry Cell Batteries (single use only)

The most common type of household battery is the alkaline battery. The battery is cheap and offers higher energy capacity, better high and low temperature performance, and longer term storage.

Include Alkaline, Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Iron, Zinc Air, and Carbon Zinc.

Click image to recycle.

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Rechargeable Batteries

At the end of the life of these batteries, tape the terminal ends or package them individually to prevent the chance of an accidental fire. (FAQs Question #6)

All rechargeable batteries can be recycled at no cost to the consumer through the RBRC program. Look for the recycling symbol or the word rechargeable somewhere on the battery. The best type of rechargeable battery is Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) because of its high capacity.
To get the most out of your rechargeable battery, recharge it right before use.

Include Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Lead Acid (Pb/acid), and Lithium Ion (Li-ion).

Click image to recycle.

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Lead Acid & Wet Cell Batteries

Wet cells may be primary cells (non-rechargeable) or secondary cells (rechargeable).
Fun fact: Lead acid batteries are the oldest type of rechargeable battery.

Include Sealed Lead Acid, Gel Cell, and UPS.

Click image to recycle.

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Mercury & Silver Batteries (single use only)

This category includes batteries containing mercury or silver. Most batteries containing mercury are prohibited from being sold in the U.S.

Include Mercuric Oxide, Button Cells, Silver (II) Oxide, and Alkaline with Mercury.

Click image to recycle.

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Lithium & Magnesium Batteries

At the end of the life of these batteries, tape the terminal ends or package them individually to prevent the chance of an accidental fire. (FAQs Question #6)

Lithium & magnesium batteries are predominantly single use batteries; a few lithium batteries are rechargeable, which should be categorized under rechargeable batteries.
Although lithium batteries are expensive, toxic, and have special requirements for transportation, they also have good power and a high capacity. Advantages of the lithium battery are the size, weight, and energy density. Some lithium batteries can be recharged; make sure to look for the label on the battery.

Include Lithium (Li) Metal, Lithium Button Cells, and Magnesium (Mg).

Click image to recycle.

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