If you've ever wondered or questioned where to drop off batteries in Hoboken and Jersey City (because you shouldn't be throwing them out,) you've asked a great question. After all, batteries contain chemicals, hazardous materials, and waste — all toxic to the environment. By simply throwing batteries in the regular household trash, you're exposing the environment and others to some potentially dangerous hazards. In February 2025, the City of Hoboken implemented new battery fire safety laws to prevent fast-spreading and potentially deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries, so we're sharing everything you need to know about battery disposal locally. Read on to find out where to drop off batteries in Hoboken + Jersey City, New Jersey.

What to Know About Battery Disposal

The household trash is designed for common waste and food waste (but don't forget about local composting options found here.) When batteries are thrown in the mix, the people who handle the garbage, work at the landfills, and work in water supply become exposed.

Sure, there's some debate about whether or not it's safe to dispose of regular alkaline batteries in the trash. Quartz reports that it's totally fine, as most batteries aren't made with mercury anymore like they were until the early-to-mid 1990s. We can thank the 1996 Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act for the "phasing out" of mercury in our batteries; though some batteries can still contain trace contaminants of mercury today. Aside from "special" batteries like car, watch, and rechargeable batteries, battery companies like Duracell and Energizer maintain that throwing away alkaline batteries is totally safe. Even the City website says alkaline batteries may be disposed in the household garbage.

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But remember: Not everyone agrees batteries should just be chucked out. The Environmental Health + Safety department at UC Santa Cruz maintains that all batteries should be properly recycled rather than discarded in household trash. Residential Waste Systems also concurs, citing a few of the toxic wastes that batteries are still made with today. Especially if your batteries aren't alkaline, you're going to want to recycle them properly. Despite the debate on alkaline batteries, lead-acid batteries are not supposed to be thrown in the household garbage under any circumstance. Instead, they must be recycled.

These include — but are not limited to — cadmium, lithium, lead, mercury, manganese, and potassium. Because of these toxic substances, batteries require a unique recycling process in order to be disposed of correctly.

According to Residential Waste Systems, batteries go to a hammer mill, where they are smashed. Here, the liquid toxins leak out and those metals are swept away and disposed of separately from the rest of the battery. The toxins go into containment, which separate themselves, thanks to gravity. Then, each individual toxin is disposed of in an environmentally way, based on the chemical and toxin that it is. In landfills, batteries do not require this kind of recycling attention. That's why it's important to dispose of batteries correctly.

So, now that you know all the reasons you shouldn't throw a battery in the trash, what's the correct way to dispose of them?

Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Laws in Hoboken

On Tuesday, February 25th, the City of Hoboken announced via a press release that it would be implementing new Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Laws to prevent fast-spreading and potentially deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries.

The Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Ordinance — which was recently approved by the City Council — was created under the guidance of Hoboken Fire Chief Peskens and Hoboken Fire Marshal Stephen DiVincent and prohibits the sale, repair, and/or use of second-hand lithium-ion batteries. The law also prohibits the charging and/or storage of a lithium-ion powered battery or a lithium-ion battery powered mobility devices in common areas, including basements, lobbies, and hallways, of residential properties with three or more units.

Spots for Disposal

First, you could drop batteries off at a battery bank. Battery banks exist in high traffic areas of our communities and you might be surprised to find out which of our local stores take your old batteries:

• Staples | 613 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City
• Home Depot | 180 12th Street, Jersey City

In Hoboken, alkaline batteries (your typical household batteries) can be disposed of in regular household garbage. The City of Hoboken shared that for 9-volt batteries, the Division of Sanitation recommends placing a piece of electrical tape over the terminals to prevent any potential contact with metal, which could generate heat. For rechargeable batteries, such as cell phone, laptop, or car batteries, proper disposal is required. These batteries can be dropped off at the City's Public Works facility at 1501 Madison Street Monday through Friday from 9AM to 4PM.

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In Jersey City, alkaline batteries can also be disposed of in regular household garbage. Rechargeable batteries can be disposed of during the City's household hazardous waste, electronics, and tire recycling day. The next event in Jersey City will take place on Saturday, June 7th at the Jersey City Municipal Service Complex at 13-15 Linden Avenue.