Batteries (Single Use)

Single-use household batteries, including standard AA, AAA, C, and D sizes, are legally banned from regular garbage cans and curbside recycling bins. Because they contain corrosive materials and heavy metals, they can easily leak and contaminate the surrounding environment if sent to a landfill. Even more critically, batteries pose a severe safety hazard because they can spark, explode, or start devastating fires when crushed inside garbage trucks and sorting facilities. To dispose of them safely, tape the battery terminals and drop them off at a designated household hazardous waste collection point or a participating retail kiosk. You can also minimize this waste entirely by switching to rechargeable batteries, which now offer the same battery life as single-use options but can be reused hundreds of times.