URBANA, Ill. — After years of powering remotes, children’s toys, and other household devices, the final destination for used batteries is usually the junk drawer. Or worse, it is tossed in the trash can. Now, consumers can keep battery toxins out of landfills by dropping them off at community collection sites for free recycling under a new law that went into effect in January.
Illinois is the 16th state to pass a law, the Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act, which regulates the safe collection, recycling, and management of batteries, including those in small everyday electronics like phones and laptop computers. The law requires companies that sell batteries or products with batteries to pay into a battery stewardship organization to cover the costs of the statewide collection program.
Batteries are widely available in different sizes and for varying uses, from hearing aids to electric toothbrushes to e-bikes, which can make safe disposal confusing. Alkaline batteries, including AA and AAA batteries, cannot be recycled the same way as rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in portable electronics such as tablets and cordless power tools.
Battery drop-off locations in Illinois are listed on The Battery Network website. These facilities will package the batteries and ship them to recycling facilities.
The Environmental Impact of Batteries
Batteries are made from mined metals and minerals and pose safety and environmental pollution risks if not recycled. Recycling batteries reuses the metals and minerals, reducing the need for newly mined materials.
Alkaline batteries can leak toxic and corrosive chemicals into the environment, especially if they are old or cheap. It’s best to remove batteries from devices that may not be used for months, such as toys, flashlights, and remotes. Batteries also become a fire and explosion risk when tossed into the trash or recycling bins, because they can be crushed and overheat in waste management vehicles and facilities. Putting batteries in the garbage is illegal under Illinois law.
How to Recycle Batteries
Retailers, municipalities, businesses, or community organizations can serve as drop-off locations. Facilities vary in what types of batteries they accept, including single-use or rechargeable household batteries, larger rechargeable products, car batteries, or damaged batteries.
Used batteries should be kept in a cool, dry place until they are recycled every six months. The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center recommends separating alkaline and rechargeable batteries. Protect the battery terminals to reduce the risk of fire by covering the ends with clear packing tape, duct tape, or electrical tape. Or place small individual batteries in a small plastic bag. For more information on how to safely handle used household batteries, visit the Illinois Product Stewardship Council website.
Community Recycling in Action
The law is already being put into practice at the Monticello School District, where fourth and fifth-grade students have collected more than 1,000 pounds of used batteries for recycling. Students were asked to bring in used batteries from home starting in the fall of 2025, as part of an initiative led by technology teacher Clay Dunker. As part of the project, students learned how properly recycling batteries protects wildlife habitats.
Extension’s natural resources, environment, and energy program provides research-based education for awareness and action to sustain healthy environments and ecosystems that support quality living and resilient communities. Extension staff empower people across Illinois to make a difference through the Master Naturalists, Climate Stewards, and Watershed Steward volunteer and training programs.
SOURCES: Karla Griesbaum, environmental and energy stewardship educator, and Linda Derhak, outreach associate, University of Illinois Extension.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.