New Solution for Battery Disposal
Illinois’ Battery Stewardship Act
Good for the Environment and Good for Waste Collectors
Homewood Disposal is excited to announce the recently enacted Illinois Portable Battery Stewardship Act. This landmark legislation, effective January 1, 2026, aims to revolutionize battery disposal and recycling across the state, promoting environmental sustainability and public safety. We’re grateful for the work of The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) on this Act. Not only does it create a path for correct battery disposal, we trust it will also reduce the quantity of hazardous lithium batteries improperly disposed of in garbage containers.
Understanding the Illinois Portable Battery Stewardship Act
The Illinois Portable Battery Stewardship Act establishes a framework for the collection, transportation, recycling, and safe disposal of portable batteries, including lithium-ion and lithium metal varieties. Some key points of the act:
Producer Responsibility:
Manufacturers of portable batteries are required to participate in a stewardship program, ensuring they finance the collection and disposal of these batteries.
Convenient Collection:
The Act mandates the creation of accessible collection points statewide, facilitating easy and responsible battery disposal for Illinois residents.
Public Awareness Campaigns:
Educational initiatives will inform the public about the importance of proper battery disposal and recycling.
Annual Reporting:
Stewardship organizations and manufacturers collecting these batteries must submit annual reports detailing the program’s effectiveness, ensuring transparency and accountability.
These measures aim to reduce environmental impacts, enhance safety, conserve natural resources, and promote the sustainable management of battery waste.
The Hazards of Improper Lithium Battery Disposal
Material burns after being ejected from a recycling truck. This fire began when a lithium battery was disposed of in a household recycling bin. The recycling truck collected the material and it ignited within the recycling truck.
Disposing of lithium batteries in garbage or recycling containers poses two separate risks; the risk lithium batteries pose to the environment, and the risk to waste workers and the local neighborhood.
Fire Hazards: Damaged or improperly disposed lithium batteries can ignite when crushed or broken, leading to fires in waste collection vehicles, collection facilities, and landfills. Waste and recycling haulers in Illinois have seen multiple recycling center fires and garbage truck fires from 2020-2024, causing millions of dollars in damages. The fires have been directly attributed to improper lithium battery disposal.
Environmental Impact: Lithium batteries contain metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and titanium. When improperly disposed of, these metals can leach into soil and water, causing contamination.
Burned material after a lithium battery fire inside a recycling truck.
As a sponsor of this legislation, along with many other waste haulers, Homewood Disposal is committed to
1.) Reducing environmental pollution caused by improperly disposed batteries and
2.) Reusing the valuable resources through battery recycling. Our goal is to ensure that residents have the resources and knowledge necessary for proper battery disposal. We’re excited for not only the producer responsibility and the added environmental communications, but also for the added safety for our coworkers.
Identifying Types of Batteries
Understanding the differences between common battery types is crucial for proper disposal. Here are three types of batteries Homewood Disposal frequently interacts with:
Alkaline Batteries
These are your traditional single-use batteries that can easily be removed and replaced. They are non-rechargeable and used in household items like toys, remote controls, alarm clocks and flashlights (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V, etc). These are everyday batteries that have been around for many years.
These can be disposed of in your household garbage when they are “dead” or brought back to local collection centers. Interesting fact: These alkaline batteries previously contained mercury, but that it was removed after 1996 in connection with the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 1996
Lithium Batteries
These are non-rechargeable, single-use batteries and can easily be replaced inside the device. They contain lithium metal and are commonly used in devices like cameras, watches, key fobs, calculators, and home security cameras. They are more powerful than traditional alkaline batteries, and are often recommended by manufacturers for electronics that need a little more juice.
These lithium batteries can take the form of a small disc or a simple AA or 9V battery and are labeled Lithium on the packaging. They should never be disposed of in your household garbage or recycling because they are a fire risk when crushed or damaged and the metals are not good for the environment.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Rechargeable batteries found embedded in electronics such as smartphones, laptops, phones, hospital equipment, and power tools. Any electronic that can be plugged in and recharged most likely has a lithium-ion hidden somewhere inside. Although safe for everyday use, these lithium-ion batteries will ignite and start a fire when crushed, bent, or damaged and can never be disposed of in the waste or recycling bin.
Impact on Illinois Homeowners and Residents
For Illinois residents, the New Battery Act provides a structured and safe method for disposing of used batteries. By using designated collection points, homeowners will prevent potential hazards associated with improper disposal, contributing to a safer home environment and a healthier Illinois.
How do I dispose of my batteries before this Act takes effect?
When the new act is rolled out in 2026, there will be drop off locations setup and the Illinois EPA will increase communications about battery disposal. Until then, there are some local retailers that currently have free battery collection kiosks within their stores. For example, Staples, Lowes, and Home Depot often accept these batteries. Call 2 Recycle, a national leader in battery collection and recycling, has compiled a list of these local collection retailers. Visit www.call2recycle.org to find a collection location near you or simply click the button below.
Current retailers accepting batteries before the Act takes effect.
Homewood Disposal is dedicated to assisting our community through this transition. We will continue to provide updates and resources to assist in compliance with the new regulations and promote responsible battery disposal practices. Together, we can make a significant impact on our environment and community safety.