Household batteries including alkaline and rechargeable batteries cannot be landfilled in California because they contain acids and toxic metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel. Batteries can also be a fire risk so it's important to recycle them properly. By law, retailers selling rechargeable batteries are required to take back used rechargeable batteries weighing 11 pounds or less from their customers. Curbside recycling is also available to residents in Windsor and residential garbage customers of Recology Sonoma-Marin by placing a clear bag of batteries on top of the recycling bin during recycling day. In addition, you can dispose of all kinds of batteries through the Agency's Household Hazardous Waste Facility and related programs.
To prevent shorting and fires, please tape the terminals of all rechargeable batteries and alkaline batteries 9-volt or larger. Tape your batteries with heavy duty clear tape. Clear tape allows the recycler to determine the battery chemistry for proper sorting. If using curbside battery services, tape the terminals of all batteries.
Alkaline batteries:
Examples: AAA • AA • C and D-cell • 9-volt • Button batteries. Button batteries are typically found in cameras and hearing aids.
Rechargeable batteries:
Examples: Nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) • Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)• Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)• Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn)• Small Sealed Lead (SSLA/Pb). Rechargeable batteries are typically found in cordless phones, power tools and laptops.
Related topics:
See Curbside Services: Blue Cart
See Household Hazardous Waste Facility for Residents
Reuse organization
313 N McDowell Blvd
Petaluma, CA 94952
NotesDrop-off and fee: alkaline batteries. Drop-off (no cost): rechargeable batteries,
Cost Alkaline batteries ($1.85/ lbs). Cost updated 10/24/19.
Atlanta, GA
NotesDatabase of collection sites accepting rechargeable and single-use (alkaline) batteries at no cost.
5405 Snyder Lane
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Rohnert Park residents only.
124 N Cloverdale Blvd
Cloverdale, CA 95425
NotesDrop-off: Batteries are accepted loose during business hours only. Cloverdale residents only.
6800 Hunter Dr., Ste. A
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Rohnert Park residents only.
5401 Snyder Ln.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Rohnert Park residents only.
401 Grove St
Healdsburg, CA 95448
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Healdsburg residents only.
203 W Sierra Ave
Cotati, CA 94931
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Cotati residents only.
1557 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Healdsburg residents only.
429 North McDowell Blvd.
Petaluma, CA 94954
NotesDrop off: alkaline and rechargeable batteries. Residents only.
4055 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
NotesDrop off: alkaline and rechargeable batteries. Residents only.
1360 Broadway Ave
Sonoma, CA 95476
NotesDrop off: alkaline and rechargeable batteries. Residents only.
1340 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA 95492
NotesDrop-off: individually bag or tape battery terminals.
10540 Old Redwood Hwy.
Windsor, CA 95492
NotesDrop-off: individually bag or tape battery terminals.
601 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Healdsburg residents only.
359 Hudson St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Batteries are accepted loose.
238 Center St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Healdsburg residents only.
500 Mecham Rd
Petaluma, CA 94952
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. For fire prevention, tape the terminals of each battery using clear tape so that battery identification is possible. The facility accepts up to 125 pounds of HHW.
3315 Industrial Dr.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries separated by chemistry type.
7921 Redwood Dr.
Cotati, CA 94931
NotesDrop-off: rechargeable batteries only.
17800 Sonoma Hwy.
Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95416
NotesDrop-off: alkaline and rechargeable batteries. Tape battery terminals with electrical, duct tape or similar heavy tape.
600 Enterprise Dr.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Rohnert Park residents only.
130 Avram Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Rohnert Park residents only.
7425 Bodega Ave.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Sebastopol residents only.
660 Gravenstein Hwy., North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
NotesDrop-off. alkaline and rechargeable batteries.
7140 Bodega Ave.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Sebastopol residents only. Drop box is outside library on path between city hall.
133 Matheson St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
NotesDrop-off: all kinds of household batteries. Tape battery terminals. Healdsburg residents only.