Car Batteries Alternative ways to recycle Illegal in Garbage & Drains Hazardous Waste Take auto batteries to a participating auto parts store. See below for more details. Hazardous Waste Collection Car batteries need special handling to avoid toxic exposure for waste workers, the community, and the environment. City Specific Disposal OptionsPlease check with your city page (residential or commercial) to confirm if additional options are available, such as home collection, drop-off locations, and/or events. (These options vary per city.) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-OffYour city or county may offer HHW drop-off sites and collection events.– Los Angeles County: S.A.F.E. Collection Centers and events– Riverside County– San Bernardino County– Ventura County Disposal Options For BusinessesHazardous waste cannot be placed in your containers. Schedule a Special Waste Collection by emailing [email protected] or calling Athens’ Customer Service Department at 888-336-6100. Fees may apply. Some HHW drop-off centers may allow drop off by small business generators (check links above). Never Throw Away Car batteries from non-electric vehicles are lead-acid batteries that are illegal to throw in the trash. They can leach harmful chemicals into the water and soil and contaminate drinking water sources. Alternative Ways to Recycle Return to the Store When it’s time to buy a new car battery, bring the old one to the retailer or dealership. Certified service shops collect and recycle them for you. Firestone Battery Recycling Program Firestone sells tires along with other auto products and services. They run a free battery recycling program that accepts drop-offs. Find a store. Recycle With AutoZone AutoZone is the second largest retailer of aftermarket car parts. They accept old car batteries at their store locations. Find a store. Did You Know? Job Creation and Automotive Recycling In the United States, the automotive recycling industry employs more than 140,000 people nationwide, bringing in about $32 billion in sales each year. About 86 percent of a whole vehicle can be recycled into new car parts or other consumer products. Find out more.