Battery recycling locations

Batteries are accepted from households only; batteries from businesses are not accepted – see our information for commercial hazardous waste generators.

Household batteries include rechargeable, button and alkaline batteries.

Hennepin County accepts household batteries and vehicle batteries at the county's drop-off facilities in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington.

On October 28, 2019, the county discontinued collecting batteries at city and county buildings, libraries, schools, and community centers.

Due to potential fire hazards, it is no longer safe to collect batteries at community locations. The combination of vape pens/e-cig devices and rechargeable batteries that are flammable is dangerous. Staff investigated using other types of collection containers to reduce the risk of fires, but currently containers do not exist that would eliminate the potential fire hazard.

Frequently asked questions

Why discontinue the program, rather than excluding the collection of lithium ion batteries and vape pens in the battery collection bins?

Unfortunately, despite well labeled containers, we find garbage, recyclables, fluorescent light bulbs, mercury devices, sharps and other problem materials in the battery containers. Because vape pens do contain batteries and the heightened awareness of the dangers of vaping, the chances of these devices being placed in these bins are high.

What should I do with my batteries?

The county still accepts batteries from residents at its drop-off facilities in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park and at county household hazardous waste event collections.

Alkaline batteries (single-use AA, AAA, etc.) do not contain hazardous material and may be placed in the trash. The county accepts alkaline batteries at its drop-off facilities only and will recycle them.

Button batteries, Lithium ion and other rechargeable batteries do contain toxic metals and pose a threat if improperly disposed. These batteries should be brought to a county drop-off facilities in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park. If you cannot remove the battery from the device, bring the entire device to a Hennepin County drop-off facility. Call2Recycle.org lists additional drop-off sites for rechargeable batteries.

Gather your batteries

• Remember: Anything that makes sounds, lights up or turns on without being plugged in contains a battery.
• Clean out your junk drawer: Spent batteries gather dust and can be a choking hazard for kids. Batteries may rust or leak after long periods of storage. If a battery has rust, leaks or has a white powder around the terminals, handle it with gloves.

Prepare your batteries for recycling

• Place batteries in a clear plastic bag OR place clear tape on both the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of batteries to prevent fires.
• If you cannot remove the battery from the device, bring the entire device to a Hennepin County drop-off facility.

Rechargeable batteries can be recharged 500 to 1,000 times. Once they wear out, a recycling facility can take them apart to recover the metals. Although the initial cost of rechargeable batteries is higher, you will save money and reduce waste in the long run.

Battery recycling partners

Hennepin County has partnered with the Call2Recycle since 1996 to recycle more than 280,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries. Call2Recycle offsets the collection and recycling costs of rechargeable batteries collected through Hennepin County’s battery recycling program.