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Rechargeable and lithium batteries
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In Calgary, put this in the
Special handling
Take to a household hazardous waste drop-off or Call2Recycle location. Tape the terminals first.
Also searched as: lithium battery, rechargeable battery, power tool battery.
Why it can’t go in a cart
Lithium cells are the most fire-prone waste item there is — damaged ones can ignite spontaneously, and truck and facility fires traced to lithium batteries are rising every year. They also contain valuable recoverable metals like lithium, cobalt and nickel.
Get it right
- Tape the terminals (or bag each battery separately) before drop-off — it prevents short circuits.
- Call2Recycle bins in many hardware and electronics stores take them free, as do the Eco Centres.
- A swollen or damaged lithium battery is an urgent hazard: don’t store it indoors, get it to a hazardous-waste depot promptly.
- Devices with built-in batteries (earbuds, vapes, toys) count too — whole device to e-waste, never the cart.
Related items
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