Everything you need to know to safely dispose of used batteries

Everything you need to know to safely dispose of used batteries

Published on October 11, 2024

Although batteries are essential for a variety of household items, they can also be dangerous once they have reached the end of their life.

Why it matters: Used batteries that are not properly discarded can lead to human and environmental health hazards. Batteries can damage the ecosystem by leaking harmful chemicals into soil and waterways. They can also start fires in collection trucks, at recycling and garbage processing plants, and even in collection carts.

Ways to prevent battery disposal hazards:

• Do not put batteries in the blue recycling cart or brown garbage cart.
• Drop off batteries at any of the City's four drop-off stations or the Environmental Collection Center (ECC).
• Return used batteries to retailers that accept battery returns for recycling.

After disposal: Once residents have dropped off their used batteries to a drop-off station or the ECC, batteries are separated by size and are safely placed inside storage drums. The batteries are then taken to a battery recycling facility.

For more information about garbage and recycling, visit www.fortworthtexas.gov/solidwaste or call the 311 Fort Worth Contact Center at 817-392-1234.

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• Environment