Car and household batteries
Batteries contain a variety of chemicals and heavy metals such as mercury, lead and calcium which can cause pollution and harm to health. Please recycle whenever possible.
Batteries that can be recycled in the UK:
| Category | Type | Typical use |
| non-rechargeable household batteries | zinc carbon | torches, doorbells, clocks, shavers |
| zinc chloride | similar applications as above | |
| alkaline manganese | digital cameras & minidisk players | |
| non-rechargeable household button cell batteries | zinc air | hearing aids and radio players |
| silver oxide | electronic watches and calculators | |
| lithium (various chemistries) | watches, photographic equipment, memory back-up, electronic games, gas/electric meters | |
| mercuric oxide | watches and calculators | |
| rechargeable batteries | nickel cadmium | power tools, personal stereos, mobile phones, laptops, emergency lighting, motorised toys |
| nickel metal hydride | laptops, PDAs, pagers and mobile phones | |
| lithium ion | mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, scientific interments, video/digital/TV cameras, ipods | |
| automotive battery | lead acid | used to power vehicles |
Where can I recycle my batteries?
Household batteries and car batteries will be accepted at all of our Household Recycling Centres.
From February 2010, all retailers who sell more than 32kg a year of household batteries will need to provide FREE in-store recycling points for waste batteries.
Some garages and automotive battery retailers will accept car batteries on site for recycling. Please check in-store for more details.
