Proper Disposal of Batteries and Electronics Keeps Us All Safe

Lithium batteries and electronics that are improperly placed in recycling carts can get compressed or punctured by the equipment we use to transport and sort recyclables. 

Just one volatile lithium battery can blow up when compacted and cause a dangerous explosion or fire in a recycling truck or sorting facility. Keep ALL batteries and electronics out of your recycling cart. They cannot be recycled with curbside recyclables like paper, bottles, and cans. Be aware of devices containing lithium batteries throughout your home and bring batteries and electronics to drop-off locations for safe disposal.   

Lithium batteries are the most common type of rechargeable battery used in portable electronic devices today.  There are two main types of lithium batteries:  

Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries are used in most electronic devices that can be charged. They are either removable from the device or embedded inside.  

Single-use, Non-rechargeable Lithium Batteries are starting to replace commonly used alkaline batteries. These can be found as Lithium AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, and button/coin cells. These are typically removable from devices.   

Common Devices containing Lithium Batteries include: 

• Hearing aids 
• Electric toothbrushes 
• Electric shavers 
• Toys 
• Game controllers 
• Greeting cards with music/sounds 
• Cell phones 
• Computers 
• Calculators 
• Tablets 
• Bluetooth headsets 
• Cordless power tools 
• Vaping Devices 
• Watches 
• Key fobs

In Hennepin County and Ramsey County, residents can bring batteries to household hazardous waste collection sites for free. For electronic devices containing embedded batteries, check your county’s disposal guide or consult county staff for proper and safe options to discard these items. Some electronics are accepted at hazardous waste sites and others may need to be brought to specialized electronic recyclers or retailers. 

Policy Solutions:

As we head into the 2025 legislative session, Eureka will be working with our partners in the Minnesota Zero Waste Coalition to advance legislation that makes it easier for residents to recycle batteries and electronics. To learn more about policy solutions visit Recycling Electronics for Climate Action, our partners leading efforts for comprehensive policy reforms.