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:
- Ensure batteries are being properly disposed of.
- Prevent battery-related fires and environmental harm.
- Educate our residents how they can be part of the solution.
Who We Serve
This program is for the residents of: 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!

STEP 2: TAPE IT!

STEP 3: BAG IT!

STEP 4: PLACE IT!

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!
Alkaline batteries are your basic AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt single-use batteries. They are commonly found in toys, remotes, and flashlights. Most button cell and coin cell batteries have a long shelf-life. They are found in watches, hearing aids, greeting cards, and car fobs. 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” 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.
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.
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.
