Battery Recycling · Portland, OR
Alkaline Battery Recycling in Portland
Before you go
Single-use alkaline is a different stream from rechargeable, and the local rule varies more than people expect.
Check whether the site takes single-use at all
Many retail drop-off boxes are funded for rechargeable batteries only and will turn away a bag of AAs. Municipal household hazardous waste programs take both.
Tape the 9V terminals specifically
Both posts sit next to each other on the same face, which makes a 9V the easiest battery to short against a set of keys or another battery.
Check your own state's rule before assuming the trash is fine
US alkaline batteries have had no intentionally added mercury since 1996, though button cells are exempt from that rule and still contain some. In much of the country household quantities of AA-to-D are legal in the trash; several states route them to collection anyway. Your municipal program page is the authority, not a national article.
Keep chemistries separated
Alkaline, lithium, NiMH, and button cells go to different processors. One labelled bag per type saves someone sorting it by hand.
Bag anything corroded
The electrolyte inside is potassium hydroxide; the white crust you can see is what it turns into in air. Either way it's caustic, it will irritate skin, and it shouldn't go loose in a pocket. Bag it and wash your hands.
Compare options
Alkaline Battery Recycling in Portland
0 free · 3 fee-based
| Facility | Cost | Open now | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batteries Plus Bulbs (SE Portland & NE Broadway)(503) 771-1377 | Free for most |
||
| Metro Central Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility(503) 234-3000 | Depends on the item |
||
| Metro South Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility(503) 234-3000 | Depends on the item |
How it works in Portland
Single-use alkaline batteries are NOT covered by Call2Recycle's free rechargeable program; drop at Metro Central or Metro South HHW (free for households) or at retailers that accept primary batteries (often a fee). Oregon's new battery EPR (HB 4144) will cover both rechargeable and primary batteries up to 25 lb when fully implemented by 2029.
Local rules
- Oregon HB 4144 / battery EPR (2024-2025 session): producer-funded statewide battery collection program required to launch by 2029; bans portable and medium-format (<=25 lb) batteries from the trash.
Worth knowing
- Metro's two transfer stations recorded 61 fires in 2025, 58 caused by batteries thrown in the trash — a key driver of the new state battery EPR law.
Multnomah County household hazardous waste
Metro Central HHW Facility
Daily 9 AM-4 PM. Free HHW drop-off, also accepts electronics (Oregon E-Cycles, 7/day limit) and batteries. 35-gallon HHW per visit cap.
16 more Portland rules, not specific to this item
- Oregon E-Cycles (ORS 459A.305-365): manufacturer-funded statewide e-waste program since 2009. Covers computers, monitors, TVs, laptops, tablets, printers, keyboards, and mice. Free up to 7 items/visit; households and small businesses/nonprofits with <=10 employees qualify.
- Oregon Paint Stewardship Law (2009, program launched July 2010): Oregon was the FIRST state in the U.S. to launch a PaintCare paint-recycling program. Funded by a per-container fee at point of sale.
- Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (SB 582, 2021; effective July 1, 2025): first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for packaging in the U.S. Producers fund collection, sorting, and processing. Curbside list expanded statewide July 2025 to add screw-on plastic caps (attached to bottles) and clean pizza boxes.
- Oregon Bottle Bill (1971, first in the U.S.): 10-cent deposit (raised from 5 cents on April 1, 2017 after redemption fell below 80% for two consecutive years).
- ORS 459A.010-040: Oregon's statewide recycling mandate requires local governments to provide recycling collection; prohibits the disposal of recyclable materials (including covered electronics) in landfills.
- City of Portland Commercial Recycling Ordinance (Title 11): requires all commercial businesses and multifamily properties to have recycling service and meet minimum diversion requirements.
- Metro is a unique elected regional government covering urban Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties and 24 cities. It — not the county — runs the two permanent HHW facilities (Metro Central in NW Portland, Metro South in Oregon City) and the regional recycling hotline.
- HHW free drop-off is capped at 35 gallons per visit by container size (households only); businesses must apply, schedule, and pay.
- Oregon E-Cycles 7-item/day cap applies per person per site; larger loads may be charged.
- MetroPaint — the Portland-area's iconic recycled latex paint brand that operated 1992-2025 — closed at the end of 2025. PaintCare and Metro HHW now handle all leftover paint in the region.
- Free neighborhood HHW collection events run roughly the last Saturday of each month March-November (skipping July/August).
- Recycling Modernization Act curbside changes took effect July 1, 2025: plastic bottle caps OK if screwed on, clean (but greasy) pizza boxes OK.
- PaintCare Oregon has ~190+ year-round sites — more than 98% of Oregonians live within 15 miles of one; most are independent paint stores and hardware stores.
- Free Geek Portland is a community institution — founded in 1999, it has refurbished and distributed over 60,000 computers to the community. It's a donation drop-off point for legacy electronics that still have reuse value.
- Oregon was the first state in the US to pass paint stewardship legislation (2009) and the first to launch PaintCare (July 2010) — its model was emulated by 11 other states and DC.
- Portland's curbside recycling is bi-weekly (alternating weeks with garbage), and the city has one of the highest recycling participation rates in the country thanks to educational outreach and the Recycling Modernization Act funding.
Other Portland programs
- Metro Central Transfer Station HHW FacilityPermanent HHW drop-off in NW Portland at 6161 NW 61st Ave. Free for households, up to 35 gallons per visit by container size. Accepts electronics (free via Oregon E-Cycles, up to 7 items/day), paint (free via PaintCare), batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pesticides, automotive fluids, and medications. Open daily 9AM-4PM.503-234-3000
- Metro South Transfer Station HHW FacilitySecond permanent HHW facility in greater Portland (Oregon City, Clackamas County). Free HHW drop-off for households up to 35 gallons by container size. Also an Oregon E-Cycles site (7 covered electronics per day) and PaintCare site.503-234-3000
- Oregon E-Cycles (state program)Free recycling of computers, monitors, laptops, tablets, TVs (CRT and flat-panel with viewable area >4" diagonal), printers, keyboards, and mice. Up to 7 items per person per visit at any participating collector statewide. Households, small businesses, and small nonprofits (10 or fewer employees) qualify.888-769-0149
- PaintCare OregonStatewide paint stewardship program. Free drop-off for latex and oil-based architectural paints, primers, stains, sealers, shellac, and varnish at ~190+ year-round sites (most are independent paint and hardware retailers). Containers up to 5 gallons accepted. Free Large Volume Pickup (LVP) for contractors/property managers with 100+ gallons.855-724-6809
- Metro Recycling Information / Ask MetroBilingual (English/Spanish) hotline for recycling, garbage, hazardous waste, and waste-reduction questions across the tri-county Portland metro. Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-5 PM.503-234-3000
- Metro Neighborhood Hazardous Waste Collection EventsFree traveling HHW collection events in cities across the tri-county area, weekends from early spring through mid-November. No charge to drop off household hazardous waste. Typically held the last Saturday of each month March-November (excluding July/August).503-234-3000
- Call2Recycle (battery drop-off network)Free drop-off for rechargeable batteries (including lithium-ion up to 11 lb) and single-use batteries (fees may apply) at participating Portland-area Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, and battery/bike shops.877-723-1297
- BottleDrop / Oregon Bottle Bill (OBRC)10-cent deposit redemption on beverage containers (water, soda, beer, kombucha, etc.). Return at grocery retailers, BottleDrop redemption centers, or via prepaid Green Bag account drop. Hand-count limit 50 containers/day; SB 992 (2025) authorizes alternative redemption centers in cities >500,000 (Portland only) accepting up to 350 containers/person/day.503-892-0395
- Green Century Electronics Recycling (NW Portland)R2v3-, ISO 14001-, and ISO 45001-certified electronics recycler in NW Portland. On-site hard-drive destruction, business and consumer electronics drop-off.503-764-9963
- Far West Recycling (Portland)Family-owned, R2-certified electronics recycler and ITAD provider in Portland. Handles commercial e-waste, on-site data destruction, and bulk recycling services. Accepts CRTs, computers, printers, and scrap metal.503-255-2299
- Free Geek PortlandNonprofit that accepts and refurbishes donated computers, laptops, tablets, and electronics. Provides free or low-cost computers to low-income individuals and non-profits. Also offers e-waste drop-off for items not suitable for refurbishment. Located in SE Portland.503-232-9350
Where this came from: 13 sources
- www.oregon.gov/deq/ecycles/Pages/default.aspx (opens in a new tab)
- www.paintcare.org/states/oregon (opens in a new tab)
- www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Pages/Modernizing-Oregons-Recycling-System.aspx (opens in a new tab)
- www.portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling/about-garbage-and-recycling/recycling-modernization-act (opens in a new tab)
- www.oregonmetro.gov/waste-disposal-and-prevention/need-get-rid-something/metro-south-transfer-station (opens in a new tab)
- www.oregonmetro.gov/waste-disposal-and-prevention/need-get-rid-something/household-hazardous-waste/community-0 (opens in a new tab)
- bottledrop.com (opens in a new tab)
- www.wastedive.com/news/oregon-battery-recycling-epr-bill-fire/814150 (opens in a new tab)
- locations.call2recycle.org/or/portland (opens in a new tab)
- greencenturyonline.net/business/r2-certifications (opens in a new tab)
- farwestrecycling.com (opens in a new tab)
- www.freegeek.org (opens in a new tab)
- www.bestbuy.com/site/services/recycling/pcmcat149900050025.c (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
About Alkaline Battery Recycling here
How much does Alkaline Battery recycling cost in this area?
Most facilities charge a fee for Alkaline Battery recycling — check each listing for details. Batteries Plus Bulbs (SE Portland & NE Broadway): Free for most household batteries; small fee for some chemistries. Metro Central Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility: Free for HHW, electronics, mattresses. Garbage/yard debris: $35-47 minimum. Free recyclables drop-off..
Do I need an appointment for Alkaline Battery drop-off?
No appointment needed. Batteries Plus Bulbs (SE Portland & NE Broadway), Metro Central Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility, Metro South Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility accept walk-ins.
Is pickup available for Alkaline Battery?
Most facilities require you to drop off Alkaline Battery. Check individual listings for special arrangements.
Are there quantity limits for Alkaline Battery drop-off?
Some facilities have limits: Metro Central Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility: 35 gallons HHW, 7 electronics per day per person; Metro South Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Facility: 35 gallons HHW, 7 electronics per day per person.