If it buzzes, hums, flashes, or charges, it’s got a battery. That includes laptops, tablets, cell phones, children's toys, watches, power tools, wireless headphones, and even electric toothbrushes!
Loose batteries or electronics that can be charged, even if broken or no longer holding a charge, contain hazardous material and can’t go in your garbage or recycling.
While batteries aren’t regular garbage or recycling, there are many convenient options for you to dispose of them in a safe, smart way!
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Option 1: Find a Battery Drop-Off Container Near You
To make battery disposal convenient for you, we’ve partnered with communities around the metro to offer battery drop-off containers. All residents are welcome to use these free drop-offs!
The drop-off containers accept electronics like laptops and tablets as well as loose household batteries, including alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, etc.), button batteries, and batteries from power tools.
All you have to do is bag each household battery using the bags provided at the container, then drop them in the labeled slot!
FIND YOUR NEAREST DROP-OFF
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Option 2: Collection at Your Doorstep
Batteries, electronics, and a variety of other household hazardous waste can be picked up just outside your door with our Houseside Collection service. This service is available on-demand, and you only pay when you choose to use it. Once signed up, you’ll receive two 12-gallon plastic bins to fill with materials and a large plastic bag for items that are too large for bins. Check out our Houseside Collection page to get started.
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Option 3: Visit a Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Facility
Have a battery that won’t fit in one of our drop-off containers? Have a large quantity of batteries or electronics? You can take them to our Metro Northwest Transfer Station in Grimes (by appointment only) or the Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off in Bondurant. Batteries are accepted free of charge (up to 75 lbs.)
These locations also accept vehicle batteries, and batteries that are leaking, cracked, swollen, or defective.
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What Makes Batteries Hazardous?
Rechargeable batteries and electronics contain hazardous material that is highly flammable, toxic, and corrosive. When the case is cracked on these types of batteries, they are susceptible to moisture and can very easily start on fire.
With the heavy vehicles that move garbage and the equipment that sorts recycling, those shells are sure to crack under the pressure! That means disposing of batteries improperly can put drivers, landfill staff, recycling sorters, and facilities at risk.
If you’re ever in doubt about where an item belongs, check out our Recycling & Disposal Guide or call us at 515.244.0021.
What Happens Next?
Once your batteries or electronics are dropped off, they are taken to our Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off in Bondurant.
There, certified staff check the electronics and refurbish them or break them down into scrap metals and plastics to be recycled or sold for repurposing. Batteries are sent to a partner who recycles the batteries into new materials, including new batteries!