How to recycle non-rechargeable and rechargeable batteries
Safely dispose of household batteries for free at a designated battery drop-off site.
- Find a free drop-off location for single-use, rechargeable, and e-mobility batteries at recycleyourbatteries.ca
- City Eco Centres – take all types of batteries including items with built-in batteries (electronic waste) to a City Eco Centre for free.
- You can also use home pickup services like Tricky Trash for battery recycling (fees apply).
Non-rechargeable or single-use batteries are used once and replaced when dead. Common examples include AA, AAA, 9-volt and button batteries.
Rechargeable batteries can be recharged and used multiple times before replacing. They may contain lithium and are commonly found in digital cameras, cordless power tools, e-bikes, cell phones and other household appliances. Types of rechargeable batteries accepted include:
- Nickel cadmium batteries
- Small sealed lead acid batteries
- Nickel zinc batteries
- Nickel metal hydride batteries
- Lithium ion / lithium polymer batteries
Special instructions
For safety precautions, tape over the ends (positive and negative terminals) of each individual lithium battery. This also applies to button style batteries. Separate your taped lithium batteries by putting inside a Ziploc bag and sealing shut.
Taping off the ends of your batteries will ensure that they cannot touch each other to prevent a fire from occurring.
Why can’t batteries go into the carts?
Batteries need to be separated and taken to a different location for safe handling. If they end up in any of the bins, the batteries can get crushed leading to fires at the recycling facility, composting facility and landfill sites.
