Call2Recycle is the largest battery recycling non-profit in North America, operating 30,000+ drop-off sites across the US and Canada since 1994. The program is free for consumers, funded by battery and product manufacturers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law in 9 US states, and accepts most household battery types. As of 2024, Call2Recycle has processed over 200 million pounds of batteries.
What Call2Recycle accepts (US, 2026)
| Battery type | Accepted? | Where to drop off |
|---|
| Lithium-ion (rechargeable) | YES | Staples, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, REI |
| Lithium primary (single-use) | YES (limited) | Specific Call2Recycle drop-off bins; check call2recycle.org/locator |
| NiMH (rechargeable AA, AAA) | YES | All major retailers |
| NiCad (older rechargeable) | YES | All major retailers |
| Alkaline (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V) | YES | Staples + Best Buy specifically; some retailers limit to rechargeable only |
| Sealed lead-acid (UPS, alarm) | YES (small only) | Call ahead - some stores require staff-assisted drop-off |
| Button cell | YES | Most retail bins accept |
| Power tool packs | YES | Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, REI, Staples - all accept |
| 12V car batteries | NO (separate channel) | AutoZone, O'Reilly, scrap yard - they pay $5-$15 buyback |
| Marine deep-cycle | NO (separate channel) | Same as car batteries - scrap yard or AutoZone |
| Industrial forklift batteries | NO | Specialized lead-acid recycler |
Where to find a Call2Recycle drop-off
Use the official locator at call2recycle.org/locator - enter your ZIP code, get a list of nearby retail bins. Most common locations:
- Staples (largest single retailer in the program - all US stores)
- Best Buy (kiosk at every entrance, max 3 per day)
- Home Depot (entrance recycling station - rechargeable batteries only)
- Lowe's (entrance bin - rechargeable batteries only)
- REI (all US stores - all battery types)
- Batteries Plus / Batteries+Bulbs (all locations - all battery types, some charge non-customers)
- Office Depot (most US stores)
- County HHW facilities (monthly events in most US counties)
How the Call2Recycle funding works
Call2Recycle is funded by an industry stewardship model:
- Battery manufacturers pay a per-battery fee to Call2Recycle at point of manufacture
- Product manufacturers (laptop makers, power tool brands) pay a per-product fee
- Retail stewards (Staples, Best Buy, etc.) host bins at no charge in exchange for environmental credit
- Call2Recycle uses funds to collect + process + recycle the batteries
This is one of the most successful Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementations in the US - eliminating consumer disposal cost while maintaining recycling rates.
Battery recycling rates (per Call2Recycle 2024 annual report)
- Rechargeable batteries (NiCad, NiMH, Li-ion): 95% recycled
- Lead-acid (mostly car batteries): 99% recycled (separately tracked)
- Alkaline single-use: 25-40% recycled - much lower because most state laws don't mandate
- Lithium-ion specifically: 90% recycled
- Lithium primary (single-use): 60% recycled
US alkaline battery recycling rate is much lower than rechargeable because:
- Single-use batteries are cheaper to dispose of (no EPR fee built in)
- Consumers don't know they're recyclable (often go to trash)
- Few states require alkaline recycling (only CA, MA, MN, NY, RI, VT)
What happens after collection
- Aggregated regionally by Call2Recycle hauler
- Sorted by chemistry: NiCad, NiMH, Li-ion, lead-acid, alkaline
- Shredded and processed to extract metals
- Cobalt, nickel, lithium, lead, manganese recovered and sold to battery + electronics manufacturers
- Plastic and electrolyte sent to specialized recyclers or controlled disposal
The recovered cobalt + nickel + lithium becomes part of the supply chain for new batteries - circular economy in action.
States with mandatory EPR battery laws
These 9 US states require battery manufacturers to fund collection + recycling:
- California (Senate Bill 1100, since 2006)
- Connecticut (PA 11-242, since 2011)
- Florida (HB 1213, since 2014)
- Maine (38 MRSA Ch. 11-A, since 2007)
- Maryland (HB 1185, since 2009)
- Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 115A.9155, since 1994 - the earliest)
- New York (ECL 27-2401, since 2014)
- Rhode Island (RIGL 23-60.1, since 2014)
- Vermont (10 V.S.A. § 7551, since 2017)
Other states have voluntary battery recycling programs but no manufacturer-funding requirement.
How to prepare batteries for Call2Recycle drop-off
- Lithium batteries: cover terminals with electrical or clear packing tape (prevents sparking)
- 9V batteries: tape both terminals
- Damaged or swollen: do NOT drop in retail bin - take to County HHW instead (fire risk in transport)
- Bundle in a small bag for easy bin drop
- Don't bring: car batteries (12V), medical implant batteries, whole devices
What if my city doesn't have a drop-off?
Three options for rural areas without a nearby retailer bin:
- Mail-in via Call2Recycle Shipping Kit ($30-$80 per kit, holds 10-25 lbs of batteries; prepaid label)
- County HHW monthly events (always free, accepts all battery types)
- Save up + drop off when traveling to a city with a Best Buy, Staples, or Home Depot
Frequently confused: Call2Recycle vs e-Stewards vs R2
These are three different recycling certifications/programs often confused:
| Program | Scope | What it certifies |
|---|
| Call2Recycle | Batteries + cell phones | Free consumer drop-off + take-back of small batteries |
| e-Stewards | All electronic equipment | Certified responsible recycling of e-waste (BAN Action Network certification) |
| R2 (Responsible Recycling) | All electronic equipment | Industry-standard certification for e-waste recyclers (SERI administered) |
Call2Recycle is the consumer-facing battery program. R2 + e-Stewards are recycler certifications (some Call2Recycle-collected batteries end up at R2-certified recyclers for processing).
Cost benchmarks
- All Call2Recycle drop-offs: free for consumers
- Mail-in Shipping Kit: $30-$80
- Replacement batteries (NiMH AA pack of 8): $15-$30
- Replacement battery (laptop, 6-cell): $30-$80
- Lithium-ion power tool pack (5Ah): $80-$200
Sources
- Call2Recycle 2024 Annual Report
- Federal Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act (1996)
- 9 state EPR battery laws cited above
- US EPA Sustainable Materials Management battery data
- DOT 49 CFR 173.220 (lithium battery shipping regulations)
Last verified: 2026-05-23. Call2Recycle accepted battery types + retail partners updated annually. Verify at call2recycle.org/locator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Call2Recycle?
Call2Recycle is the largest battery recycling non-profit in North America, operating 30,000+ drop-off sites in the US and Canada since 1994. The program is free for consumers, funded by battery and product manufacturers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law in 9 US states. Has processed 200+ million pounds of batteries to date.
Where can I find a Call2Recycle drop-off near me?
Use the official locator at call2recycle.org/locator - enter your ZIP code. Common locations: Staples (largest single retailer, all US stores), Best Buy (kiosk at every entrance), Home Depot + Lowe's (rechargeable only), REI, Batteries Plus, Office Depot, and County HHW facilities. 30,000+ sites total across US and Canada.
Does Call2Recycle accept alkaline batteries?
Yes at Staples and Best Buy specifically. Other retailers limit to rechargeable batteries. Most state EPR laws don't mandate alkaline recycling, so the take-back is voluntary in most US states. Alkaline recycling rate is 25-40% (vs 95% for rechargeable) because consumers don't realize alkalines are recyclable and most laws don't require it.
Is Call2Recycle free?
Yes - 100% free for consumers. The program is funded by battery and product manufacturers under EPR law (in 9 US states) and voluntary stewardship agreements. Retailers like Staples and Best Buy host bins at no charge in exchange for environmental credit. The manufacturer-funded model eliminates consumer disposal cost while maintaining recycling rates.
How do I prepare batteries for Call2Recycle?
Cover terminals of lithium batteries and 9V batteries with electrical or clear packing tape (prevents sparking in mixed bin). Damaged or swollen batteries: do NOT drop in retail bin - take to County HHW (fire risk). Bundle in a small bag for easy bin drop. Don't bring car batteries, medical implant batteries, or whole devices.
Does Call2Recycle accept car batteries?
No - 12V automotive batteries are too large for the Call2Recycle program. Take them to AutoZone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, or any scrap yard - they pay $5-$15 BUYBACK for old car batteries (they recycle the lead and pay you the value). Scrap yards may pay up to $25 for a 50-lb battery at current lead prices.
What states have mandatory battery EPR laws?
Nine US states: California (1100), Connecticut (242), Florida (1213), Maine (Ch. 11-A), Maryland (1185), Minnesota (since 1994, earliest), New York (27-2401), Rhode Island (60.1), Vermont (7551). Manufacturer-funding mandatory in these states. Other states have voluntary stewardship but no funding requirement - lower recycling rates as a result.
What happens to batteries after Call2Recycle collects them?
Aggregated regionally by Call2Recycle hauler, sorted by chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, Li-ion, lead-acid, alkaline), shredded, and processed to extract cobalt, nickel, lithium, lead, manganese. Recovered metals go to battery + electronics manufacturers - circular economy. US recycling rates: rechargeable 95%, lead-acid 99%, lithium-ion 90%, alkaline 25-40%.
What if I have damaged batteries?
Do NOT bring damaged or swollen batteries to retail Call2Recycle bins - they have fire risk in transport. Take to County HHW facility (always free, accepts all damaged batteries). For lithium battery emergencies (overheating, smoking), call the National Battery Recycling Hotline (1-877-Two-Recycle) or your local fire department.
How is Call2Recycle different from R2 or e-Stewards?
Three different things: Call2Recycle is the CONSUMER program for free battery drop-off. R2 (SERI-administered) and e-Stewards (BAN Action Network) are RECYCLER certifications - they certify that recyclers handling e-waste meet environmental and labor standards. Some batteries Call2Recycle collects end up at R2-certified processors.