Rethink Batteries

RethinkWaste Goals

If an item lights up, makes sound, or moves on its own WITHOUT being plugged into the wall—there’s a great chance that item contains some type of battery.

RethinkWaste wants to partner with our community members to accomplish these 3 things:

  1. Ensure batteries are being properly disposed of.
  2. Prevent battery-related fires and environmental harm.
  3. Educate our residents how they can be part of the solution.

Click here to learn more about why proper battery disposal matters to us—and why it should matter to you!

Who We Serve

This program is for the residents of: Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, parts of unincorporated San Mateo County, and the West Bay Sanitary District.

How to Properly Dispose of Your Batteries

Residents who live in apartment complexes and condominiums have 3 easy, simple, and FREE ways to properly dispose of your household batteries.

OPTION #1 – Drop it in the orange bucket

STEP 1: COLLECT IT!

Collect ALL your household batteries that no longer carry a charge.

STEP 2: TAPE IT!

Prevent fires by taping over battery terminals with clear tape.  The terminals, or exposed metal parts, of certain batteries can rub together creating a spark.

STEP 3: BAG IT!

Put all your batteries into a clear plastic zip-top bag. Properly seal the bag to ensure no batteries fall out.

STEP 4: PLACE IT!

Place the sealed bag in your orange bucket.

NO BUCKET? NO PROBLEM! If you don’t see one at your location, ask your property manager or owner to get a bucket for your building(s) from Recology San Mateo County for free! Please note that only property managers/owners can request a bucket and coordinate pickups.

OPTION #2 – Battery Drop-Off

There are over 20 convenient and free drop-off locations within the RethinkWaste service area, including our Shoreway Public Recycling Center in San Carlos.

See the map below for full list of locations. Please call the location before heading out to make sure they are open and if there is a limit.

OPTION #3 – San Mateo County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program

Dispose of all your toxic waste (including your batteries) with the County. Click here for a list of all accepted HHW items. San Mateo County’s HHW Program is a free recycling and disposal service for all County residents by appointment only. To participate, you must schedule an appointment at smchealth.org/hhw or call (650) 363-4718, select option 3.

Batteries To Be On The Lookout For

If you have any of the below batteries at home that no longer carry charge—we’re happy to take them off your hands absolutely free!

  • Single Use Alkaline Batteries
    Alkaline batteries are your basic AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt single-use batteries. They are commonly found in toys, remotes, and flashlights.
  • Single Use Button Cells
    Most button cell and coin cell batteries have a long shelf-life. They are found in watches, hearing aids, greeting cards, and car fobs.
  • Rechargeable Ni-MH (Nickle Metal Hydride)
    Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times. They are commonly found in cordless power drills, digital cameras, and cordless phones.
  • Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium) batteries are the least expensive of the rechargeable batteries and can be recharged up to 1,000 times. They are often found in cordless power drills, digital cameras, and cordless phones.
  • “Lithium” or “lithium cell” batteries are non-rechargeable and long-lasting, but react violently with water. They may be found in pacemakers, alarms, watches, and remote car locks.
  • Lithium-ion Battery
    “Lithium-ion” or “lithium polymer (Li-Po)” batteries are rechargeable and highly flammable if they short circuit. You’ll find these batteries in cell phones, laptops, power tools, and digital cameras.

Battery FAQs

We’ve received lots of battery related questions and wanted to share the answers with our RethinkWaste community. Click below to find the battery answers you’ve been looking for.

How should I gather my household batteries for collection?

You may place your used batteries in any clear zip-top bag.

Why is taping battery terminals helpful?

Bagging and taping batteries helps because covering the terminals prevents batteries from rubbing together and creating a spark. Residents should tape terminals with clear tape and store batteries in a plastic bag before proper disposal. See how to properly tape your used batteries in the video below.

Watch is short how-to video to learn how to tape your terminals.

Why do I have to use clear tape to tape my battery terminals?

Clear tape (like the small rolls you use at home or packaging tape) is essential for our team to properly sort the different battery types. Because there are quite a few different types of batteries that need to be sorted by chemistry make up, clear tape allows us to read the various labels and ensure the correct battery gets placed with its friends. Dark tape like electrical or duct tape would prevent us from reading the labels clearly.

Which batteries are the most dangerous?

Lithium-ion batteries contain more power than other batteries and are delicately packaged. When damaged, the battery can short out, heat up, and catch on fire as seen in the video below. Click here to learn more about lithium batteries and the types of products they can be found in.

Watch a lithium ion battery catch fire under pressure.

What are the most common products that people mistakenly think don’t have batteries but actually do?

Some of the most common items that people forget have batteries are the smaller everyday things that have lights such as light-up or musical greeting cards, light-up shoes, and even light-up pens. If you’re not sure whether a product has a battery, a good rule of thumb is to remember that nearly every electronic device that has an on/off switch, makes sounds, or has lights, has a battery.

Where do batteries go and what happens to them?

Batteries that are properly collected get sent to a third-party that sorts the batteries by type and then they safely extract the valuable metals inside.

What do I do with my lead-acid batteries from cars or computers?

Lead-acid batteries are accepted at the Shoreway Public Recycling Center for proper disposal.

Why can’t I place my batteries with my other recyclables?

Batteries contain materials/metals that can be recycled, but not in the normal way your blue cart materials are recycled. Since batteries contain chemicals and potentially leftover charge, they must go through a separate process to safely extract the valuable materials inside.

Are rechargeable batteries better than single-use batteries?

Rechargeable batteries are reusable, resulting in reduced waste and cost. However, reusable batteries contain more chemicals than single-use alkaline batteries, so you must remember to handle them with care.

What do I do with products that have embedded (not easily removable) batteries such as mobile phones, toothbrushes and/or razors?

It’s best if you can remove the battery safely from the device. If you cannot, e-waste items with batteries such as laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players can be taken to the Shoreway Public Recycling Center in San Carlos free of charge. Other items with embedded lithium-ion batteries such as toothbrushes, razors, and vape pens should be properly disposed of via San Mateo County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program. You can make an appointment online at smchealth.org/hhw.

Why is taping battery terminals helpful?

Bagging and taping batteries helps because covering the terminals prevents batteries from rubbing together and creating a spark. Residents should tape terminals with clear tape and store batteries in a plastic bag before proper disposal. See how to properly tape your used batteries in this video.

Caution: Lithium Batteries May Start Fires

Lithium-ion batteries contain more power than other batteries and are delicately packaged. When damaged, the battery can short out, heat up, and catch on fire as seen in the video below. Click here to learn more about lithium batteries and the types of products they can be found in.

Ask The Battery Expert

Have a battery question? Get answers by asking our battery expert using the form below.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

WHY DOES PROPER BATTERY DISPOSAL MATTER?

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Batteries that find their way into our black garbage carts end up in our local landfill. After a little time, they can corrode and allow harmful chemicals to leach into the soil and make their way into our water supply.

Batteries can also cause landfill fires which release toxic chemicals into the air, leading to potential health problems for anyone who inhales those fumes. Help make a positive impact on our environment by not disposing of used batteries in your garbage. Instead, explore the different battery disposal methods below.

DID YOU KNOW 3 billion batteries are thrown away and end up in landfills every year?

SAFETY IMPACT

DID YOU KNOW chemicals in batteries can cause everything from serious skin irritation to cancer?

Batteries that end up in our blue recycling carts are brought to the Shoreway Environmental Center. In 2016 a battery started a 4-alarm fire that closed the facility for months and caused millions of dollars in damages.

In fact, lithium-ion batteries have caused concerns for many consumer products such as cell phones, laptops, and headphones that explode or catch on fire. Properly disposing of your batteries and taping your battery terminals can help keep your home and community safe.

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