Battery Recycling · Austin, TX
Lithium Ion Battery Disposal in Austin
Before you go
Lithium cells are the item on this site most likely to cause an actual fire. Two minutes of tape prevents nearly all of it.
Tape the terminals
Clear packing tape or electrical tape over the contacts. It stops a loose cell shorting against metal in a bin, which is one of the ways these start fires. It is not the main one: most battery fires at recycling facilities begin with a cell being crushed, so taping a cell does not make it safe to put in a bin that is not meant for batteries.
Never put them in curbside recycling or the trash
A lithium cell that gets crushed in a collection truck or a sorting line starts a fire that's very hard to put out. This is the reason your hauler asks.
Handle a swollen or hot battery differently
Put it in a non-flammable container (a metal tin, or sand or cat litter in a bucket), keep it away from anything that burns, and call the site before you drive over. Some locations won't accept a damaged cell over the counter.
Bag cells individually where tape won't stick
Recessed or irregular terminals don't hold tape well. A separate zip bag per cell does the same job of keeping contacts apart.
Run it down before it sits in a drawer
A cell waiting a few days is safer at a low state of charge than a full one. Don't fully discharge it either; around half is the comfortable place.
Compare options
Lithium Ion Battery Disposal in Austin
2 free · 3 fee-based
| Facility | Cost | Open now | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Home Depot (N. I-35) - Call2Recycle | Free | ||
| Lowe's (Austin) - Call2Recycle | Free | ||
| Paid or fee-based options | |||
| Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center(512) 974-4343 | Depends on the item |
||
| Best Buy (Arboretum)(512) 795-0956 | Free for most |
||
| Batteries Plus (Burnet Rd)(512) 419-7587 | Free for most |
||
Where they are
Relative positions across Austin. Not a street map: use Directions on a facility page to navigate.
Free Fee or conditional 2 more listings are not plotted, 1 because it covers a whole metro rather than one address.
How it works in Austin
Critical local issue — Austin Resource Recovery has publicly tied lithium-ion in curbside carts to collection-truck and MRF fires in Texas summer heat. Options: (1) Call2Recycle drop boxes at Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Staples; (2) Austin Public Library branches accept household batteries (NOT large/EV); (3) Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center; (4) New on-demand HHW curbside (since Jan 2025). Tape terminals before drop-off.
Local rules
- Austin City Code Ch. 15-6 (Solid Waste Services Administrative Rules) governs HHW handling and prohibits placing batteries and HHW in curbside recycling/trash carts.
Worth knowing
- Austin Resource Recovery warns that batteries in curbside recycling carts have started truck/MRF fires in summer heat — the city actively campaigns to keep lithium-ion out of carts.
- Large batteries (car, solar panel, EV) are explicitly excluded from APL library drop-off boxes — they require Recycle & Reuse Center appointment or manufacturer programs.
Travis County household hazardous waste
Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center
Central HHW hub for Austin & Travis County. Appointment required, released weekly. Free for residents.
12 more Austin rules, not specific to this item
- Texas Recycles Computers Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. I): TCEQ requires computer manufacturers selling in Texas to offer free recycling of their own brand-labeled computer equipment to households.
- Texas Recycles TVs Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. J): TV manufacturers must register with TCEQ, file a recovery plan, and recycle a market-share allocation of CTE (covered television equipment) in Texas.
- Texas does NOT have a paint stewardship law — PaintCare does not operate in Texas (as of 2026).
- Austin Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO): commercial properties, multifamily, and food-permitted businesses must provide recycling/organics access; annual diversion plans due Oct 1-Feb 1; violations are Class C misdemeanors up to $2,000/day.
- Austin Construction & Demolition Recycling Ordinance (2015): projects over 5,000 sq ft must reuse/recycle 50% of debris or dispose <2.5 lbs/sq ft.
- Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center is appointment-only — slots can be hard to get and are scheduled via the Austin Recycles mobile app or by calling 3-1-1.
- Austin's on-demand HHW curbside service is brand-new (January 2025), replacing the prior bulk/brush twice-a-year schedule with up to 3 service appointments per year per address.
- HHW curbside set-out rule: items must be staged OUT of direct sunlight (garage or porch) — the city explicitly warns about Austin heat causing reactions; NOT placed at the curb until collection morning.
- City of Austin's Recycle & Reuse Center accepts HHW from Travis County residents free (Austin & county only); fees apply to non-residents and businesses cannot use the residential HHW service.
- Zero Waste by 2040: Austin City Council adopted 90% landfill diversion goal in 2011; 2023 Comprehensive Plan added 'aggressive milestones.'
- PaintCare absence: unlike Colorado, California, or Oregon, Texas residents cannot drop paint at hardware stores under PaintCare — all paint must go through municipal HHW.
- Solar panel disposal fee schedule: first 2 panels under 100 lbs are free at the Recycle & Reuse Center, then $0.30/lb.
Other Austin programs
- Austin Resource Recovery On-Demand HHW Curbside CollectionCurbside pickup of paint, batteries, automotive fluids, aerosols, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, propane cylinders. Launched January 2025 as on-demand service. Up to 3 collections per address per year. 30-gallon total limit, no individual containers >5 gallons.3-1-1 (512-974-2000)
- Austin ReBlendFree 100% post-consumer recycled latex paint (low-VOC) made from HHW drop-offs. Available in three shades (Texas Limestone, Balcones Canyonland, Barton Creek Greenbelt) for residents, nonprofits, and businesses by appointment at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.512-974-4343
- Austin Public Library Battery Drop-Off NetworkHousehold battery collection at 20+ APL branches (look for 5-gallon black/gray buckets); does NOT accept large car or solar panel batteries.3-1-1
- Dell Reconnect via Goodwill Central TexasFree recycling of any-brand computer equipment (laptops, desktops, monitors, peripherals) at participating Goodwill Central Texas donation centers.
- Travis County 1431 Citizens Collection Center (Cedar Park)General household trash only ($4.33/cubic yard, Thu-Sat 8am-3:50pm); HHW for county residents is routed to the City of Austin Recycle & Reuse Center.
- Call2Recycle drop-off network (Austin)Rechargeable and single-use batteries (under 11 lb) at Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Staples and other retail locations citywide; terminals must be taped or bagged before drop-off.
- Travis County recycling locatorSearchable database of drop-off sites for paint, electronics, batteries, and other materials across Travis County.
Where this came from: 12 sources
- www.austintexas.gov/dropoff (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/resource-recovery/locations/recycle-and-reuse-drop-center (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/resource-recovery/programs/demand-bulk-brush-and-household-hazardous-waste-collection (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/batteries (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/reblend (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/uro (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/zerowaste (opens in a new tab)
- www.traviscountytx.gov/tnr/environmental-quality/conserve/disposal-recycling (opens in a new tab)
- www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics (opens in a new tab)
- www.paintcare.org/paintcare-states (opens in a new tab)
- www.goodwillcentraltexas.org/about-us/dell-reconnect (opens in a new tab)
- locations.call2recycle.org (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
About Lithium Ion Battery Disposal here
How much does Lithium Ion Battery disposal cost in this area?
2 of 5 facilities (40%) offer free disposal for Lithium Ion Battery. Facilities that may charge: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center, Best Buy (Arboretum), Batteries Plus (Burnet Rd). Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Free for residents. Fees for tires, mattresses, large appliances.. Best Buy (Arboretum): Free for most items. $29.99 fee for TVs over 50" and large monitors..
Do I need an appointment for Lithium Ion Battery drop-off?
1 facility requires an appointment: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. Best Buy (Arboretum), The Home Depot (N. I-35) - Call2Recycle, Lowe's (Austin) - Call2Recycle accept walk-ins.
Is pickup available for Lithium Ion Battery?
Most facilities require you to drop off Lithium Ion Battery. Check individual listings for special arrangements.
Are there quantity limits for Lithium Ion Battery drop-off?
Some facilities have limits: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Residential quantities only Residential quantities; Best Buy (Arboretum): 3 items per day; The Home Depot (N. I-35) - Call2Recycle: Residential quantities; Lowe's (Austin) - Call2Recycle: Residential quantities.
Why do I need to tape battery terminals?
Lithium-ion batteries can short circuit if the positive and negative terminals touch metal (keys, coins, wires). This can cause fires in collection bins and trucks. Use clear tape or electrical tape to cover the terminals.
Can lithium-ion batteries go in the trash?
Never — lithium-ion batteries are classified as hazardous waste. They can cause fires in landfills and recycling facilities. All states require them to be recycled or disposed as hazardous waste.