
Battery Recycling & Collection Locations
Locations around New Zealand that accept used household batteries for recycling or safe disposal
Where can you dispose of batteries safely in New Zealand?
Waste batteries that are carelessly thrown away with the general rubbish or mixed with other kerbside recycling can be dangerous and start fires – placing recycling workers at risk and damaging vital facilities. You can stop used batteries from becoming dangerous by disposing of them safely by dropping them off to a designated battery recycling or collection location.
This map shows both free and paid recycling drop off locations (rather than sending them to landfill) for standard household batteries (single use lead acid and lithium ion) in Aotearoa.
These battery recycling and collection facilities are operated by either councils or private entities, and each have different requirements for how the batteries should be prepared prior to drop off, and what types of batteries they can receive. Please contact the facilities before you arrive to ensure they’re aware of these.
The dangers of used batteries
Used batteries thrown away in the general rubbish or in your kerbside recycling can be very dangerous.
When your general rubbish or recycling is collected, any used batteries hiding in it are unintentionally likely to be crushed, compacted, punctured, shredded or soaked in liquids. When this happens, some types of battery can get very hot or ignite, resulting in fires that put lives at risk; cause millions of dollars of damage; and disrupt your waste services.
Even if they don’t cause a fire, if damaged, these dead batteries contain chemicals and materials that can harm the environment if they aren’t disposed of responsibly.

Top tips to stop waste batteries from becoming dangerous.
- Try to use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use ones where possible - this reduces the number of batteries that are discarded
- Try to sell or donate working, but unwanted, battery-powered electronic items instead of throwing them away
- Never put batteries in your general rubbish bin or kerbside recycle bin.
- If you can safely remove a battery from a product, the battery should always be disposed of separately using a battery recycling or collection service.
- When recycling batteries tape the ends with clear tape before you drop them off at a collection location.
If you would like to be included on this map, please contact Charlotte on charlotte@wasteminz.org.nz
