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Battery Recycling · Phoenix, AZ

Lithium Ion Battery Disposal in Phoenix

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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 Phoenix

3 free · 3 fee-based

3 of 6 have a single address. Chains listed for the whole metro stay in place.
Facility Cost Open now Notes
City of Phoenix HHW Program(602) 262-7251 Free
Phoenix residents only		 Hours not published Appointment Proof of Phoenix residency required. Appointment required — schedule online or call 3…
Home Depot (Call2Recycle) Free Hours not published Walk-in Call2Recycle drop-off bins at store entrance. Rechargeable batteries only.
Maricopa County HHW Events(602) 262-6251 Free
Maricopa County residents		 Hours not published Appointment Quarterly drive-thru HHW events. Free for all Maricopa County residents.
Paid or fee-based options
Best Buy Free for most
TVs under 50" $30		 Hours not published Walk-in Convenient walk-in option. Does not accept CRT monitors/TVs or large appliances.
Greentec Recycling(800) 773-6614 Call for pricing
Varies — call for quote		 Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM CST (phone) Appointment Specializes in hybrid and EV battery recycling, replacement, and remanufacturing.
Batteries + Bulbs(602) 840-4034 Depends on the item
small fee for some types		 Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Walk-in Nation's largest battery retailer. Accepts wide range of battery chemistries.

Where they are

Relative positions across Phoenix. Not a street map: use Directions on a facility page to navigate.

5 milesCity of Phoenix HHW Program, Phoenix (free)Greentec Recycling, PhoenixBatteries + Bulbs, Phoenix

Free Fee or conditional 3 more listings are not plotted, 3 because they cover a whole metro rather than one address.

  1. Batteries + BulbsPhoenix
  2. City of Phoenix HHW ProgramPhoenix
  3. Greentec RecyclingPhoenix

How it works in Phoenix

Lithium-ion is the hot-button local issue: Phoenix Fire Department and Public Works publicly attribute MRF and truck fires to lithium-ion in curbside carts and have run dedicated free drop-off events (most recently Oct 9, 2025 at Steele Indian School Park during Fire Prevention Week, 5-lb cap per resident). Year-round options: Call2Recycle at participating Home Depot/Lowe's stores; Mesa HHM facility; Phoenix HHW home pickup (annual). Chandler's HHW explicitly does NOT accept large lithium batteries. Downstream processing happens at Li-Cycle (Gilbert) and Heritage/Cirba (Eloy).

Local rules

  • Arizona adopts the federal Universal Waste Rule (under the Arizona Hazardous Waste Management Act, enforced by ADEQ): batteries (lithium, NiCd, mercury, silver-oxide, lead-acid), pesticides, mercury-containing devices, electric lamps (fluorescent/HID), and hazardous waste aerosol cans CANNOT be landfilled and must be recycled.
  • Arizona prohibits the disposal of lead-acid batteries in landfills and the incineration of lead-acid batteries (per ADEQ).

Worth knowing

  • Service split is unusual: the City of Phoenix runs HHW pickup but Maricopa County transfer stations explicitly REFUSE batteries and household hazardous waste. Residents who drive to a county transfer station with a bag of batteries will be turned away.
  • Phoenix Fire Department has publicly tied lithium-ion batteries to garbage-truck and MRF fires; PFD has co-hosted free battery drop-off events with Public Works (e.g., Steele Indian School Park during Fire Prevention Week, Oct 9, 2025, 3-6pm, with a 5-lb-per-resident cap).
  • Phoenix's 'Zero Waste' plan includes public education campaigns targeting lithium-ion battery disposal because of the growing fire risk at the North Gateway Transfer Station and MRF facilities.
  • The Phoenix metro area is home to two major commercial Li-ion recycling facilities (Li-Cycle in Gilbert and Cirba Solutions in Eloy), making it one of the best-served regions for EV battery recycling infrastructure in the US — though both are B2B only.

Maricopa County household hazardous waste

City of Phoenix HHW Program

Free at-home HHW pickup, capped at one collection per residential solid waste account per calendar year. Schedule by phone.

(602) 262-7251 Official program page (opens in a new tab)

11 more Phoenix rules, not specific to this item
  • Arizona has NO statewide e-waste recycling mandate and NO landfill ban on consumer electronics. Disposal is voluntary and market-driven.
  • Arizona has NO paint stewardship law; PaintCare does NOT operate in Arizona. Any Phoenix-area page that lists PaintCare drop-offs is inaccurate.
  • City of Phoenix limits HHW home pickup to one (1) collection per residential solid waste account per calendar year; eligibility requires a residential City Services account number.
  • City of Phoenix uses an 'Oops/Shine On' curbside cart-tagging program: bins tagged 'Oops' (red) for contamination will not be collected after 2 weeks of repeated tags.
  • Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49 (Environmental Quality): regulates solid waste management including transfer station operations, landfill bans, and universal waste. ARS § 49-863 specifically addresses the management of used oil.
  • Garage and shed storage of leftover paint is risky in Phoenix: summer interior garage temperatures regularly exceed the 60-80F shelf-life range for latex paint, accelerating curing into an unusable rubbery solid that then must be handled as HHW. Local guides recommend climate-controlled storage or prompt disposal.
  • East Valley residents have dedicated permanent HHW facilities (Mesa, Chandler) while Phoenix proper uses an at-home pickup model with annual frequency caps — the right channel depends entirely on which city's utility bill the resident pays.
  • Scottsdale's HHW pickup explicitly excludes June and December from its 2026 calendar — likely a heat/holiday operational choice — so residents holding paint or pesticides into late spring should book by May.
  • Mesa's HHM facility runs a Swap Shop where residents can take usable donated paint, automotive fluids, and chemicals for free — a regional quirk worth flagging on paint-disposal pages.
  • Dust storm (haboob) and monsoon damage routinely destroys outdoor-stored electronics; local restoration guidance treats damaged electronics as hazardous waste rather than standard recycling intake.
  • Arizona is not a PaintCare state, so no producer-funded paint take-back exists — residents rely on municipal HHW programs and GreenSheen (fee-based). This is a common point of confusion for Californians moving to Phoenix.

Other Phoenix programs

  • Maricopa County Waste Resources & Recycling (Transfer Stations)County transfer stations (e.g., Cave Creek, Hassayampa, Rainbow Valley) accept TVs, computers, printers, gaming systems, and other electronics as standard intake (CRT monitors $21/each, appliances $8/each, vehicle-based load fees $6-$12). Up to 5 gallons of used oil/antifreeze per visit accepted free. Explicitly DO NOT accept household batteries or HHW.602-506-4006
  • City of Mesa Household Hazardous Materials FacilityPermanent year-round drop-off for Mesa residents at 2412 N. Center St., Bldg. #2, Mesa (Wed-Sat 7am-2pm). Accepts paint, automotive fluids, batteries, electronics, pesticides, cleaners, fireworks. Includes a Swap Shop for free reuse of paint, automotive fluids, and household chemicals.
  • City of Chandler Recycling-Solid Waste Collection Center (HHW by appointment)Appointment-only HHW intake at 955 E. Queen Creek Rd., Chandler. Accepts up to 25 gallons paint (containers <=5 gal), 10 gal automotive fluids, rechargeable batteries, CFL/fluorescent bulbs, pool chemicals, propane tanks, cooking oil. Does NOT accept medications, ammunition, or large lithium batteries.480-782-3510
  • City of Scottsdale HHW Home CollectionUp to 3 free curbside HHW pickups per residential address per year. 2026 collection months: Jan-May and Jul-Nov (no June/December). Max 20 gallons per appointment; sign-ups open the 1st of each month at 8 a.m. Accepts paint, solvents, pesticides, pool chemicals, rechargeable batteries; does NOT accept electronics or appliances.480-312-5600
  • GreenSheen Paint Phoenix (latex paint recycler)Privately operated latex paint and stain recycling facility at 1626 S. 51st Ave., Phoenix. Accepts latex (acrylic) paint in original containers, no quantity limit, but charges by the pound. Drop-off during business hours only.602-278-6445
  • Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona + Dell ReconnectFree drop-off of any brand/model of computer equipment at any Goodwill donation center (Phoenix metro has dozens of locations). Hard drives wiped at no charge. Does not accept TVs.
  • Call2Recycle drop-off networkFree rechargeable battery (and cellphone) drop-off at participating Phoenix-area Home Depot and Lowe's stores. Find your nearest store via the locator.
  • Li-Cycle Spoke 3 (lithium-ion processor, Gilbert)Commercial lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Gilbert capable of processing full EV battery packs without dismantling (up to ~10,000 tonnes/year). B2B intake; not a consumer drop-off, but relevant for downstream traceability claims.
  • Heritage Battery Recycling / Cirba Solutions (Eloy)Commercial Li-ion recycling facility in Eloy (Pinal County, between Phoenix and Tucson). Handles EV pack disassembly, sorting, diagnostics. Industrial intake only.
  • Westech Recyclers (Phoenix)Full-service electronics recycling and ITAD company serving businesses and the community since 1999. R2 and NAID AAA certified. Free drop-off for most electronics. Provides secure data destruction.(602) 256-7626
  • R3eWaste (Phoenix R2-certified recycler)R2 and RIOS certified electronics recycler in Phoenix. Residential drop-offs Monday-Friday. Accepts computers, monitors, printers, and other electronics. Provides secure data destruction.(602) 314-6061
Where this came from: 14 sources

Common questions

About Lithium Ion Battery Disposal here

How much does Lithium Ion Battery disposal cost in this area?

3 of 6 facilities (50%) offer free disposal for Lithium Ion Battery. Facilities that may charge: Best Buy, Greentec Recycling, Batteries + Bulbs. Best Buy: Free (most items); TVs under 50" $30. Greentec Recycling: Varies — call for quote.

Do I need an appointment for Lithium Ion Battery drop-off?

3 facilities require an appointment: City of Phoenix HHW Program, Greentec Recycling, Maricopa County HHW Events. Best Buy, Home Depot (Call2Recycle), Batteries + Bulbs 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: Best Buy: 3 items per day; City of Phoenix HHW Program: Residential quantities only; Home Depot (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.

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