• Editor’s Note: This article is written by Kane County Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Jarland. Got a question or idea for a recycling tip? Contact Jarland at 630-208-3841 or recycle@countyofkane.org.

We use a lot of batteries in our tech world! And that means we have to find smart ways to recycle them.

​Household “dry-cell” batteries (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 12V, coin, and button) contain high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead and mercury, which can contaminate the environment. We do NOT want them in the recycling bin or trash carts!

Here are tips on how to recycle batteries in Kane County, IL — and more about why you should.

First, Reduce Waste By Recharging!

The best way to reduce battery waste is to invest in a small battery charger and buy rechargeable batteries.

Rechargeable batteries make better use of resources, because you can use them multiple times before recycling, and there are countless locations to recycle rechargeable batteries.

Single-use batteries are more resource intensive and harder to recycle at end of use.

DO NOT Place Batteries in a Bag on Top Of or In The Cart!

 

Curbside battery recycling programs are a thing of the past — for the most part. The village of North Aurora still allows you to place bagged batteries on top of your cart for curbside collection, but that’s it.

Everyone else, please DO NOT PLACE BATTERIES NEAR OR ON YOUR CURBSIDE RECYCLING CART! That is no longer the proper practice for recycling.

The automated collection trucks allow drivers to move more efficiently through the route, and stopping to pick up a baggie of batteries is not efficient, nor is there any real guarantee that they will be collected properly and sent for recycling.

We definitely do not want them in the recycling container or mixed into the truck with recyclable materials!

If they end up in the mix of recycling they will go to the sorting facility where they may be captured for recycling but may just as likely end up in the landfill. Also, they create a hazard at the sorting facilities, and we really want to keep them out of there!

How To Correctly Recycle Batteries

You can take batteries to any number of drop-off locations, where you can be assured that they will indeed be recycled.

Just remember: safety first! Please first tape over the tops of all batteries as they are a potential fire hazard, then place used batteries in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag before delivering to one of the drop-offs.

Please see the list of drop-off locations online and below:

Battery Recycling Drop-off Locations

The following services are free and open to the public 24/7, unless otherwise indicated:

Batavia Public Works

• Who Can Drop Off: Batavia residents only.
• Location: Batavia Public Works Facility, 200 N. Raddant Rd., Batavia
• Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Tips: Please go to the office entrance on west side of building and deposit batteries in the appropriate
  container in the vestibule area. Hearing aid, watch, and car batteries are not accepted at Public
  Works.

Elburn Town and Country Library

• Location: 320 E. North St., Elburn
• Phone: 630-365-2244​

Elgin Township Highway Garage

• Location: 725 S. McLean Boulevard, Elgin
• Phone: 847-741-4637

Elgin Fire Station

• Location: 650 Big Timber Road, Elgin (1/4 mile West of Route 31)
• Phone: 847-741-4637​​

Elgin Fire District Annex

• Location: 8N709 Stevens Road, Elgin (corner of Hopps and Stevens Roads)
• Phone: 847-741-4637

Geneva Public Works

• Who Can Drop Off: Geneva residents only
• Location: 1800 South St., Geneva
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Naperville HHW Facility

• Location: 156 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville
• Phone: 630-420-6095
• Hours: 9 a.m.  to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except holidays)​

Pingree Grove Fire Station

• Location: 39W160 Plank Road, Elgin
• Phone: 847-741-4637

St. Charles Public Works

• Who Can Drop Off: St. Charles residents only
• Location: Public Works building, 1405 S. 7th Ave., St. Charles
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Tips: Drop in the lobby area inside the front door. No ​car batteries accepted.

The northern six townships, Geneva and Mill Creek may include batteries in your household hazardous waste home collection program.​

Batteries Plus

• Aurora: ​2933 Kirk Road / 630-820-4880
• Geneva: 1492 S. Randall Road / 630-402-6495
• Elgin: 352 S. Randall​ Road / 847-289-8990
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• ​​Fees May Apply: $0.25 to $1 per pound to recycle at Batteries Plus.​

Lead-Acid​ Batteries

Larger lead-acid batteries from autos, boats, sump pumps, and the like may be taken to any store that sells these batteries. The store will accept them for free or a small charge.

These batteries are totally recycled, including the lead plates, battery acid, and plastic case.

They can also be delivered to any Home Depot store, or the Naperville facility.