Batteries (Domestic)
Approximately 577 million household primary batteries (non-rechargeable) were sold in the UK in 1998. These are used in a wide range of everyday appliances such as torches, radios and electric toys.
Find out how your household batteries are recycled by watching a video here
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable batteries are also common in the household, found in equipment such as power tools, camcorders, laptop computers and mobile phones (there is a separate information sheet about mobile phones).
A dry cell battery requires fifty times more energy to make than it gives out.
Check with the manufacturer of your batteries to see if they are operating a recycling or take-back scheme. This is particularly necessary for NiCd batteries as they are the most hazardous type of battery found in the home.
Our recycling / disposal advice
Using rechargeable batteries (e.g. NiCds or NiMHs) reduces the quantity of waste batteries produced.
Estimates of the proportion of domestic waste made up from batteries vary from 0.001% - 0.2% by weight of the general waste stream.
Use the search below to find where to recycle / dispose of Batteries (Domestic).