Battery Recycling
Where can I recycle household batteries?
Image of the battery recycling bin at Barkes Corner
What batteries can I recycle?
Accepted batteries include:
- Standard household batteries, including AA, AAA, C, D and 9V
- Lithium coin and cylindrical batteries
- Rechargeable batteries from items such as cameras, remotes and small power tools
- Button-cell batteries
- Batteries from some small household devices, including toothbrushes, alarms and vapes
These bins cannot accept:
- Car batteries
- Damaged or leaking batteries
- Oversized batteries
Car batteries can be taken to our Athenree, Katikati or Te Puke recycling centres.
If you're unsure whether your battery can be accepted, check before dropping it off.
How to prepare your batteries for recycling
A little preparation helps reduce the risk of a fire.
- Tape the terminals. Cover the exposed terminals of batteries with tape to help prevent short circuits.
- Separate your batteries. Where practical, place batteries individually in snaplock bags, particularly if they have exposed terminals. Avoid storing loose batteries together.
- Use the designated bins. Place eligible batteries in the battery recycling bins provided at our participating libraries and service centres.
Tape should be available beside the bins for you to use.
Never put damaged, swollen, hot or leaking batteries into a collection bin. Handle them with care and seek advice on safe disposal.
Why is battery recycling so important?
When batteries are crushed in rubbish collection trucks or at waste facilities, they can short-circuit and ignite. Lithium-ion batteries are particularly concerning because they can undergo a process called thermal runaway, in which heat triggers a chain reaction that can lead to intense fires.
These fires can be difficult to extinguish, and batteries may reignite even after appearing to be out. They put collection crews, waste facility workers and emergency responders at risk, and can cause significant damage and disruption.
Keeping batteries out of household rubbish and recycling bins helps protect our people, our infrastructure and our environment.
What happens to recycled batteries?
Collected batteries are sent to specialist recycling facilities, where suitable materials can be recovered and reused. Depending on the battery type and available processing facilities, this may involve specialist recycling overseas.
Recycling helps recover valuable resources and reduces the need to dispose of batteries with general waste.
