Can you recycle batteries?

Lithium-ion cells are the serious hazard. Crushed or punctured in a collection truck or at a sorting facility they can enter thermal runaway and ignite, and battery fires are now one of the leading causes of fires at waste facilities. Even ordinary alkaline batteries should not go in kerbside recycling; they need a dedicated stream to recover the metals. Retailers, supermarkets and household waste sites almost all run free battery collection. Tape over the terminals of lithium and button cells before storing them, because loose terminals touching in a drawer are themselves a fire risk.

How to do it properly

1. Tape over the terminals of lithium-ion and button cells.
2. Store them in a non-metal container away from heat.
3. Take them to a supermarket, electrical retailer or household waste collection point.
4. Never put any battery in a kerbside recycling or general waste bin.

What goes wrong

• A crushed lithium cell can ignite inside a collection truck.
• Button cells are a severe swallowing hazard for small children.

Other "can you recycle" questions

• Can you recycle pizza boxes? It depends — Clean parts yes, grease-soaked parts no — tear the box and bin the oily half.
• Can you recycle plastic bags? It depends — Not in kerbside bins. They need a store drop-off point that takes soft plastic film.
• Can you recycle styrofoam? No — Effectively no. Almost no kerbside service takes it, and food-soiled foam never qualifies.
• Can you recycle coffee cups? It depends — Not in ordinary paper recycling — the plastic lining needs a specialist facility.
• Can you recycle receipts? No — No. Most receipts are thermal paper coated with BPA or BPS and must go in general waste.
• Can you recycle shredded paper? It depends — Often not loose — short fibres fall through the sorting screens. Bag it or check locally.

Kerbside recycling rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always beat general guidance. Check your own collection service before assuming any material is accepted.