Lithium-ion batteries power almost every laptop, phone, tablet, power tool and e-bike, and they are a leading cause of fires in waste trucks and sorting facilities. WMG Waste eRecycling offers battery recycling for businesses and households: we collect loose and device batteries, keep them in a separate stream and send them to WEEELABEX certified recycling so the metals inside can be recovered.

Why should batteries never go in the regular bin?

A lithium-ion cell that gets crushed, punctured or short-circuited can overheat within seconds and set off a fire that is hard to put out. In a bin, a garbage truck or a shredder, that is exactly what happens. Batteries also contain metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper that are valuable to recover and harmful when they leak into soil. For more everyday items that belong outside the household bin, read five things you should never throw in the regular bin.

How should you store used batteries until pickup?

• Tape the terminals. Cover the contacts of every loose battery with non-conductive tape so they cannot short-circuit against each other or against metal.
• Store them separately. Keep batteries apart from other e-waste, paper and cardboard, in a sturdy non-metal container.
• Keep them cool and dry. Avoid direct sunlight, heaters and damp storerooms.
• Isolate damaged batteries. A swollen, dented or hot battery should be placed on its own, away from anything flammable, and reported to us when you request collection.
• Leave built-in batteries in place. Do not try to pry a glued battery out of a phone or laptop. Send the whole device instead.

What does WMG do with collected batteries?

We reply to your quote request within 24 hours and schedule a pickup. You receive an itemized receipt, and the batteries are tracked from collection to final processing. They travel as a separate stream from other equipment and go to WEEELABEX certified recycling, where the metals are recovered for new use. After processing you get a recycling report for your WEEE records.

Batteries that are still inside devices come along with the rest of the collection. Our laptop recycling service, for example, covers both the storage and the battery in each notebook.

Which batteries are accepted?

Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer packs from laptops, phones, tablets and tools, as well as batteries from UPS units and other IT equipment. If you are not sure about a specific type, mention it in your request and we will tell you how to pack it.

Collecting used batteries at your workplace? Request a free quote for a safe pickup.