Expanding safe, convenient battery recycling across Illinois
The Battery Network is currently the state-approved stewardship program that allows consumers to recycle all household batteries (primary and rechargeable) through a convenient network of drop-off locations.
State Laws and Information
All household batteries must be recycled. It’s the law.
Under Illinois Law, household and medium-format batteries are prohibited from being tossed in the garbage and must be properly recycled.
What are household and medium-format batteries?
Household batteries: Primary (single-use) and rechargeable batteries found in everyday home devices, and battery-containing products (remotes, toys, flashlights, cordless tools, portable chargers, drones, and more). If it powers a household device and isn’t a car battery, it’s likely a household battery.
Medium-format batteries: Larger rechargeable batteries (up to 25 pounds and 2000 watt-hours) commonly found in electric, cordless lawn mowers, snowblowers, e-bikes and e-scooters. These batteries are typically bigger than a cordless-tool battery, but smaller than an EV battery.
Damaged or defective batteries: Batteries that are no longer safe for normal use, charging, or handling due to physical damage or malfunction. Examples include batteries that are swollen, leaking, cracked, crushed, overheated, corroded, or otherwise compromised. These batteries should only be dropped off at authorized sites across Illinois. See our safety page for safe handling instructions.
Recycling batteries keeps your home and community safe.
It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
- Collect. Recycle batteries every six months and keep them in a cool, dry place.
- Protect. Ensure you’ve taped battery terminals or bagged before you drop.
- Drop. Find a nearby collection site and recycle responsibly.
Bring battery recycling to your community
As Illinois expands battery recycling statewide, collection sites are essential to making it convenient and safe. If you’re a retailer, municipality, business, or community organization, sign up to be a drop-off location and help keep batteries out of landfills.
Illinois Producer Stewardship Information
Per Illinois’ new law, producers of household and medium-format batteries in Illinois must participate in an approved stewardship plan, which provides free collection and recycling of primary (single-use) and rechargeable batteries for consumers. The Battery Network is currently the state-approved stewardship program that allows consumers to recycle household and medium-format batteries through a convenient network of drop-off locations.
Producers listed on The Battery Network Steward and Brands pages are authorized to continue selling covered batteries in Illinois. For more information about the Illinois Battery Stewardship law, please visit the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) website.
Definition of a Producer & Covered Battery
To learn if your company may be an obligated producer or the scope of covered batteries under the law, visit the Illinois General Assembly website.
To find out more about joining our Illinois Program, contact:
Roxane Peggs
Director of State Stewardship
[email protected]
(678) 218-4587
