Alkaline and Rechargeable Household Batteries

Several Types of Battiers
  • DON’T put them in curbside recycling
  • DON’T throw them in the trash (especially NiCd type which must be recycled by federal law)
  • DO drop them off at a collection location to be recycled
  • DO switch to rechargeable batteries to reduce battery waste

About These Items

These common household batteries come as both single-use and rechargeable batteries. These batteries can not be recycled through the City’s curbside recycling program. There are a number of places around the city of Pittsburgh where you can drop off batteries for recycling (see below).

Single-use batteries are typically alkaline batteries. Single-use alkaline batteries can legally be disposed of with your curbside waste. They can also be recycled but fewer battery recycling collection points accept these types of batteries.

Rechargeable household batteries are typically Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH). Ni-Cd batteries are generally required to be recycled.

Places that Accept Household Batteries for Recycling

U.S., federal law generally requires used nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) and lead (Pb) batteries to be sent for recycling rather than disposed. There is no such requirement for single-use alkaline batteries because legislation in the ’90s forced manufacturers to remove mercury so that these batteries would be safer when thrown away. Ironically, because alkaline batteries are considered more “safe” to simply throw out, often battery recycling locations only accept rechargeable batteries. Be sure to check what kind of batteries a location accepts before dropping off your used up batteries.

  • Frick Environmental Center: There is a free battery recycling receptacle in the main building at the Frick Environmental Center. They accept both alkaline and rechargeable batteries.
  • IKEA: The IKEA at Robinson Town Center has a free battery recycling receptacle inside the lobby at the store exit. They accept alkaline and rechargeable batteries,
  • Home Depot: Local Home Depots typically have free rechargeable batteries recycling receptacles near their customer service desks.
  • Lowe’s: Local Lowe’s typically have free rechargeable batteries recycling receptacles near their customer service desks.
  • PRC: The Pennsylvania Resource Council accepts alkaline batteries for $1.50/lb at their Household Chemical Collection events and their weekly e-waste collection for City of Pittsburgh residents for $0.35/lb.
  • Construction Junction: Construction Junction will take alkaline non-rechargeable batteries (ends of the battery must be taped over) for $0.25/battery old
  • Batteries Plus Bulbs. They have several locations in the Pittsburgh area. They will take both alkaline and household batteries for $0.99/lb. (Note: B+B also recycles other kinds of batteries such as car batteries or cell phone batteries- and these are generally accepted for free.)

Do you know another service that accepts batteries, particularly alkaline batteries? Let us know!

Go With Rechargeable When You Can

None of these batteries are that great for our environment if thrown away. They don’t decompose easily, they are a fire hazard, and they contain a variety of chemicals, some of which we wouldn’t want leaking into our soil or water. Reduce the number of batteries you add to our environment by choosing reusable rechargeable batteries. Plus, since single-use alkaline batteries are legally considered safe to throw away in landfill trash, it is actually more difficult to find a free recycling location for these batteries as compared to rechargeable batteries.

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