When it is finally time to replace the batteries in your remote or in your wireless mouse, do you know how to dispose of your old batteries? Or what the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of them is?

With everything going wireless, batteries are all around us.  Some are rechargeable, and some are single-use batteries like AA, AAA, 12V, 9V, and many others.  How you dispose of these batteries is going to be different.  

Let's take a look at how you can responsibly recycle single-use and rechargeable batteries.

How To Dispose of Single Use Batteries

Single-use batteries are some of the most common among household items.  They are inside of toys, remotes, flashlight, and many other small electronics. If you can't recharge the battery, it is a single-use battery.

Single-use batteries can now be thrown away in a regular dumpster in all states except California.  Before 1996, this wasn't the case because cells used to contain mercury and needed to be treated as hazardous waste.  

There is an exception though with button cell batteries found in watches.  These need to be treated like rechargeable batteries.

Recycling Single Use Batteries

It is possible to recycle single-use batteries, but there is usually a fee associated with recycling them.  Recycling single-use batteries extends the life of the materials in the battery.

-Call your local recycling center to see if they accept batteries
-search for a recycling center that accepts batteries on earth911.com
-go to Best Buy
-search mail-in battery recycling programs like call2recycle

How to Dispose of Rechargeable Batteries

You'll find rechargeable batteries in some of your favorite electronics like your cell phone and laptop.  

There are many types of rechargeable batteries, from lithium-ion batteries that you find in cell phones and laptops to nickel-cadmium batteries found in cordless power tools.

Unlike single-use batteries, you can not throw away rechargeable batteries in a dumpster or trash can.  You can throw away rechargeable batteries in a dumpster because they contain heavy metals. It is illegal in some states.

When you are looking at throwing away a rechargeable battery, you should recycle it.  

Most electronics or office supply stores will recycle rechargeable batteries for you at no cost.

Carl Smith, the CEO of Call2Recycle explains why it is important to recycle your rechargeable batteries, "First, some batteries have potentially toxic metals in them such as cadmium, lead and, historically, mercury. Diverting these metals from landfills and recycling them instead is important to ensure that the metals don't leak out of landfills and pollute our drinking water. Second, most batteries can be recycled, which means potentially valuable materials, particularly metals, can be reclaimed from them. Recycling batteries minimize the need to mine virgin resources."

A Few Steps to Take Before Recycling Your Batteries

Single Use

• Place a piece of electrical tape of the ends to prevent andy current transfer.
• store batteries in a non-conductive container like plastic or cardboard

Rechargeable Batteries

• Remove the battery from your electronics.  Electronics need to separately recycled.
• Place a piece of tape over the terminals ( usually the gold spots).