Safe shipping starts with a few simple steps.
Shipping batteries the right way keeps your team, your customers, and our transportation partners safe. Below you’ll find a few quick tips to help you prepare your boxes or bulk shipments with confidence. For complete instructions, download the guidelines below.
Before You Ship
1. Identify Your Battery
Check the battery label or chemistry:
- Lithium-ion, Ni-Cd, NiMH, SSLA: must be bagged or have the terminals taped.
- Primary (single-use) alkaline batteries: no terminal protection needed unless the battery says “Lithium.”
- Soft-sided batteries: require bubble-wrap bags.
- DDR (damaged, defective, or recalled) batteries: follow special handling instructions.
2. Protect the Terminals
Terminal protection is a very important step. Each required battery should be individually bagged or the terminals should be taped with non-conductive tape. This helps prevent sparks during transport.
Use one of these options:
Option A: Bag Each Battery (Preferred)
Use a clear bag, such as:
• Battery Network provided bags
• Zip-seal bags
• Produce or newspaper bags
• Bubble-wrap bags (required for soft-sided batteries)
Option B: Tape the Positive Terminal
Use:
• Clear packing tape
• Electrical tape
• Duct tape
Avoid masking, painters or Scotch tapes, as they can fall off during shipping.
If using non-clear tape, keep the battery brand and chemistry visible.
3. Keep damaged, defective, or recalled batteries out of your box.
Do not place swollen, damaged, or recalled batteries in your collection kit. Damaged and defective require special handling under U.S. DOT rules. For recalled batteries, advise customers to contact the manufacturer for their instructions for disposal and replacement. Learn more about DDR batteries
4. Know what belongs in the box.
Your collection kit accepts most household dry-cell batteries up to 11 lbs each, plus cellphones. Lithium-ion, Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA) alkaline, and button/coin cells are all accepted.
Preparing Your Collection Box Shipment
Here’s a quick summary of the full instructions included with your kit:
1. Build the box correctly.
Remove shrink-wrap, unfold the inner liner, and insert the header and side tabs. Do not remove or damage the flame-retardant liner.
2. Check each battery.
Confirm chemistry and remove any foreign objects before sealing the box.
3. Fill, pack, and seal.
• Place sealed bags inside the box
• Fill any empty space with bubble wrap or paper
• Don’t exceed the 66 lb / 30 kg weight limit
• Keep the prepaid label visible. (Don’t cover it.)
