Natural Sciences Department
School of Integrated Studies
Klump Academic Center, Rm. 102 · (570) 327-4521
Disposal of Batteries
There are five types of batteries that are generally used. These batteries are identified as follows:
Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) Batteries: rechargeable batteries typically used in beepers, two-way radios, laptop computers, cellular phones, camcorders and some medical equipment. These batteries contain cadmium, a heavy metal which is considered hazardous. They must be disposed of through the GS department as hazardous waste.
Lead Acid Batteries: typically used in some medical equipment, motorized vehicles such as cars, golf carts. These batteries are also used in some older cellular phones and camcorders. These batteries contain lead which is considered hazardous. They must be disposed of through the GS department as hazardous waste.
Mercury Batteries: Typically used to power Telemetry monitoring devices and hearing aids. These batteries contain mercury, a heavy metal which is considered hazardous. They must be disposed of through the GS department as hazardous waste.
Household (Alkaline) Batteries: The most commonly used non-rechargeable battery. Used typically to power radios, flash lights, and most office equipment. These batteries do not contain hazardous substances in sufficient amount to warrant special disposal arrangements and may be disposed of in the regular trash.
Zinc Air Batteries: Used as an "environmentally friendly" substitute to replace mercury batteries in telemetry units and some other electronic equipment. These batteries do not contain hazardous substances and may be disposed in the regular trash.
Lithium Batteries: Used in some diagnostic equipment. These batteries ( if containing less than 5 grams/cell of lithium) do not contain hazardous substances in sufficient amount to warrant special disposal arrangements and may be disposed in the regular trash.