Battery recycling is challenging for two reasons: 

1. Batteries cannot be recycled in curbside recycling bins,

2. The right place to drop batteries off for recycling depends on the battery type. 

Rechargeable batteries used in electronic devices, power tools, etc., are the most critical batteries to recycle carefully. Please never place rechargeable batteries in regular trash or recycling bins, as they can start fires in waste processing facilities. Instead, take them to a site in the right-hand column, use an HHW program through the Village's waste-hauler LRS, and take them to any Lowes or Home Depot location for recycling. 

Single-use, non-rechargeable batteries, especially the very common alkaline type, are costly to recycle and contain no hazardous materials, so fewer locations accept them, and many that do charge fees based on quantity. If recycling alkaline batteries is impractical, throwing them in regular trash is safe.

We cannot accept batteries of any kind for disposal or recycling at at any Village Buildings. 

Why Aren't Rechargeable Batteries Accepted at Village Buildings?

Rechargeable batteries are fire hazards and should be disposed of properly to ensure safety. We do not accept them at Village facilities due to the safety risks. Through our contracted third-party waste hauler, LRS, residents are able to take advantage of the Electronics (E-Waste) Recycling Program they offer to safely dispose of electronics such as these. For more information or to schedule an e-waste pickup visit the Montgomery LRS website.

Why Don't We Recycle Alkaline Batteries?

In this age of recycling, sometimes we need to adjust how we do things. One example is alkaline batteries, which have not contained mercury for at least 20 years. The newest recycling guidelines say you can safely throw alkaline batteries away with your weekly trash since they contain no hazardous materials. Although they may contain a small amount of metal, such as nickel or zinc, they contain no dangerous materials or cost-effective ways to recycle them. Hence, the Village of Montgomery is no longer accepting them for recycling.

All other types of batteries, such as rechargeable, button, and lead-acid batteries, should be recycled, and the Village of Montgomery will continue to accept those. A word of caution: You should throw out alkaline batteries when they are no longer working and not stockpile them to dispose of them all at once. In higher concentrations, they could cause problems at the landfill. A couple of batteries in your trash is better than a large container.

Is There an Alternative?

If you don't like the idea of throwing away alkaline batteries, it is best to avoid purchasing them and stop generating the waste. Instead, buy rechargeable batteries and commit to using them. They are more expensive than one-use batteries but pay for themselves over time as they can last many years.