---
title: "Where do Power banks and portable chargers go? Shop or manufac"
description: "Small electricals collection or a battery take-back point. It is a lithium cell in a plastic shell. Why that route, what goes wrong on the wrong one, and how to prep"
url: https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/power-banks/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Where do Power banks and portable chargers go?

**Where do Power banks and portable chargers go?: Small electricals collection or a battery take-back point. It is a lithium cell in a plastic shell.**

Shop or manufacturer take-back

A power bank is mostly battery by weight, so everything true of a loose lithium cell is true of it: crushing it shorts it, and a shorted cell in a compactor is a fire. Swollen cases are the visible warning sign, and a power bank whose seams have opened should be treated as urgent rather than left in a drawer. Take it to a household waste centre or an electricals take-back point, where it is separated before anything is baled. If the case is hot or has vented, keep it outside on a non-combustible surface until you can hand it over. Councils differ on whether small electricals are collected at the kerb, so check yours before making a trip.

## How to prepare it

1. Charge state does not matter — do not try to run it flat first.
2. Bag a swollen unit separately and tell the staff at the tip what it is.

## What not to do

- Never bin a power bank; it behaves exactly like a loose lithium cell under a compactor.
- Never keep charging one that has swollen — the pouch has already failed.

> Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

## Other things that go to shop or manufacturer take-back

- [Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/batteries/) — Battery collection point — a supermarket or DIY store box, or the household waste centre. Never the kerbside bin.
- [Lithium-ion batteries](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/lithium-batteries/) — Battery or WEEE collection point only. A lithium cell in a bin lorry is a fire, not a littering problem.
- [Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/vapes/) — A vape shop or supermarket take-back bin. It is electrical waste with a lithium cell inside, not litter.
- [Mobile phones](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/mobile-phones/) — Wipe it, then trade it in, donate it or hand it to an electricals take-back point.
- [Disposable coffee cups](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/coffee-cups/) — Not the kerbside bin. Take them to a shop cup collection point, or general waste — the lid and sleeve recycle separately.
- [Button and coin cells](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/button-cells/) — Battery collection point. Tape them first — and keep them away from small children until they go.
- [Coffee pods and capsules](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/coffee-pods/) — Brand take-back scheme if aluminium; general waste for most plastic pods. Compostable ones need a food waste collection.
- [Rechargeable batteries (NiMH, NiCd)](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/rechargeable-batteries/) — Battery collection point. NiCd cells contain cadmium and are hazardous waste in most jurisdictions.
- [Laptops and computers](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/laptops/) — Wipe the drive, then donate, trade in or take it to WEEE recycling. The battery makes binning it a fire risk.
- [Printer cartridges](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/printer-cartridges/) — Manufacturer freepost return or a shop collection box. Not the kerbside bin.
- [Tyres](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/tyres/) — Tyre fitter or household waste centre, usually for a small fee. They are banned from landfill in the UK and EU.
- [Propane and patio gas cylinders](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/propane-cylinders/) — Back to the supplier or exchange point. Refillable cylinders are almost never yours to scrap.
- [Bubble wrap and postal air pillows](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/bubble-wrap/) — Soft plastics collection at a supermarket, or reuse it. Not the kerbside bin.
- [Toys and gadgets with batteries inside](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/battery-toys/) — Take the batteries out and deal with them separately; the toy then goes in small electricals. Sealed ones go in whole.

## Common questions

### Where do Power banks and portable chargers go?

Small electricals collection or a battery take-back point. It is a lithium cell in a plastic shell.

### What happens if you put Power banks and portable chargers in the wrong bin?

Never bin a power bank; it behaves exactly like a loose lithium cell under a compactor. Never keep charging one that has swollen — the pouch has already failed.

## Related pages

- [Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/batteries/)
- [Where do Lithium-ion batteries go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/lithium-batteries/)
- [Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/vapes/)
- [Where do Mobile phones go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/mobile-phones/)
- [Where do Disposable coffee cups go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/coffee-cups/)
- [Where do Button and coin cells go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/button-cells/)
- [Where do Medicines and tablets go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/medicines/)
- [Where do Pizza boxes go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/pizza-boxes/)
- [Where do Leftover wet paint go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/paint-wet/)
- [Where do Used cooking oil go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cooking-oil/)
- [Where do Car batteries (lead-acid) go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/car-batteries/)
- [Where do Aerosol cans go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/aerosols/)

## Sources

- US Environmental Protection Agency — EPA (https://www.epa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]