Does anyone know what to do with batteries when they run out?

1. Alkaline batteries can just be thrown in the regular trash. Alkaline and manganese batteries are commonly used in flashlights, toys, remote controls, and fire alarms. These batteries range from AAA to 9 volts. In many places, these batteries are regulated as general trash and can be disposed of generally.

For rechargeable batteries that are alkaline or nickel-manganese mix, they can also be thrown in the general trash. These batteries are safe to dispose of with other municipal trash.

2. Carbon-zinc batteries are also disposed of with regular trash. These batteries are generally recognized as durable, come in a variety of standard types, and are designed to be relatively safe and harmless. Like alkaline batteries, these can be thrown in the regular trash.

3. Button batteries, on the other hand, need to be disposed of with hazardous waste. These batteries are used in items such as hearing aids and watches and contain oxidized mercury, lithium, silver oxide and zinc gas. These are hazardous substances and should be disposed of along with other hazardous household waste or specially treated in other appropriate ways.

4. Lithium batteries or lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of at a battery recycling center. Lithium-ion batteries are used in many small appliances and are considered to be batteries with no significant risk. Battery recycling centers will accept these batteries.

5. Drop off sealed, rechargeable lead-acid or nickel-cadmium batteries at the scrap yard. These batteries must be taken to a dump where hazardous household waste collects or dropped off at a recycling center.