How to dispose of and recycle coin cell batteries
A dead coin cell is not a harmless one. Tape it, keep it out of reach and take it to a battery drop-off, not the kitchen bin.
Take a dead coin cell out of the device promptly, wrap it in tape all the way around, twice, and take it to a battery recycling drop-off. The EPA says not to put button cell, coin or lithium single-use batteries in household trash or curbside recycling bins. Until then, keep taped cells out of children's sight and reach.
Can you throw coin cell batteries in the trash?
The answer depends on who you ask and where you live, so start with the strictest source. The EPA's used household batteries page separates ordinary alkaline cells, which it says can be put in household trash in most communities, from button cell and coin batteries. For those its recommendation is direct: check for the word "lithium" on the battery, and do not put button-cell, coin or lithium single-use batteries in the trash or municipal recycling bins.
Energizer's battery care page is softer. It says it is often safe to dispose of used batteries through your normal waste process, still encourages everyone to recycle, and notes that regulations vary by municipality and state. National Capital Poison Center says the same about the rules: disposal varies from state to state, and many states allow button batteries in the trash. Legal is not the same as recommended, though. Recycling is what every source on this page asks for.
How do you tape a coin cell before recycling it?
Wrap it twice, all the way around, with clear packing tape. That one habit satisfies all three of the instructions below.
| Source | What it asks for | Tape notes |
|---|---|---|
| Poison Control | Tape button batteries all the way around, twice, before disposing | A study it cites found two wraps, one horizontal and one vertical, stopped current with all six tapes tested |
| Call2Recycle | Lithium primary cells: bag each one (preferred) or tape the positive terminal | Use clear packing, electrical or duct tape; avoid masking, painter's or Scotch tape, which can fall off |
| EPA | Bag each button cell separately, or put non-conductive tape over the terminals or around the whole button | Gives electrical tape as an example of non-conductive tape |
The reason for the double wrap comes from Poison Control's article on taping button batteries. It describes two 2022 studies. In the first, a single layer of duct tape or packing tape stopped the cell conducting current, but a single layer of masking or electrical tape did not, and still damaged esophagus tissue in the lab. In the second, two layers worked for every tape tested, and taping did not affect recycling. Call2Recycle adds one practical point: if the tape is not clear, keep the brand and chemistry visible.
Do lithium coin cells and alkaline button cells need different handling?
For recycling paperwork, sometimes. Call2Recycle says lithium primary batteries need terminal protection and alkaline batteries usually do not, unless the battery says "Lithium". The EPA notes that button and coin cells historically contained silver, cadmium, mercury or other heavy metals, that most are now lithium metal, and that management depends on chemistry. A CR or BR code means lithium; our guide to coin cell markings shows where to find it.
For safety at home, no. Poison Control's taping advice covers all button batteries, and the EPA's handling precautions cover all button and coin cells. Taping an LR44 costs a few centimetres of tape, so tape every one.
Where can you recycle button batteries?
Call2Recycle, whose call2recycle.org address now redirects to The Battery Network, lists coin and button cells among the single-use batteries it collects. Its single-use batteries page says they are accepted by select collection partners only, so use its locator, or call 1-877-2-RECYCLE, to confirm a site takes them. The EPA adds two other routes: participating retailers with battery take-back, and local household hazardous waste collection programs.
Manufacturers point the same way. Energizer and Duracell both send consumers to Call2Recycle. Duracell's FAQ adds a storage rule for the collection pile: keep used batteries in a non-metal container in a well ventilated area, do not mix them with other items, and take them in regularly rather than all at once. Both makers say never to put batteries in a fire.
In Europe the cue is printed on the product. EPBA (Consumer Batteries Europe) notes that under the EU Batteries Regulation, batteries must carry the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol, a reminder to collect used batteries separately and not with household waste.
Why are dead button batteries still dangerous?
Because "dead" means too weak for the device, not empty. Poison Control says spent batteries usually keep enough charge to cause damage if swallowed, and that children have swallowed dead batteries left on a counter or taken from a garbage can. It cites a study that found 29.8% of button battery ingestions involved batteries that were discarded or sitting out. The injury itself, and first aid, are covered in our button battery child safety guide.
So the waiting jar matters as much as the drop-off. Poison Control asks for batteries waiting to be recycled to be stored out of sight and reach of young children, the same rule our guide to storing spare coin cells applies to fresh ones.