Did you know how easy it is to recycle batteries in Vermont?
That's right. Household batteries, both single-use and rechargeable, can be dropped off at more than 100+ convenient locations throughout Vermont. Most locations accept cell phones too. For all other larger batteries like car, motorcycle, and boat lead-acid or E-bike and E-scooter batteries, contact your local Solid Waste Management Entity for a drop off location near you.
Not sure what kind of batteries you have?
Learn all about the common types you might have around your home:
Visit Call2Recycle.org/Vermont for all your battery recycling questions and watch their short video to learn how battery recycling works.
Battery Safety
For fire prevention, keep batteries out of your blue bin recycling and the trash; use one of the collection sites listed here. Remember to bag or tape each of your batteries to keep them safe during transport. See this fact sheet for more detail on why battery safety is important and this training video on battery safety for facilities.
Final Vermont Primary Battery Stewardship Plan
Final Vermont Primary Battery Stewardship Plan, submitted by Call2Recycle; approved by the VT ANR in November 2020
Approval letter (January 21, 2021)
2019 Report on Battery Stewardship
2022 Vermont Primary Battery Stewardship Annual Report by Call2Recycle
Primary Battery Stewardship Program Collection Rate 2022
ANR Approval of 5-year Audit Report
Information for Battery Manufacturers
Lead-acid Battery
Lead-acid batteries are banned from landfill disposal in Vermont. State law (Act, effective ) requires retailers to accept spent lead-acid batteries in return for those that they sell and requires that collected batteries be recycled.
The Primary Battery Stewardship Law (Act 139)
Batteries are composed of valuable materials that can be recycled rather than wasted. Vermonters buy over 10 million batteries a year and this bill will provide Vermonters with convenient options for recycling primary batteries.
What is a Primary Battery?
Primary Battery means a non-rechargeable battery weighing two kilograms or less, including alkaline, carbon-zinc, and lithium metal batteries.
Are Rechargeable Batteries included in this law?
No, they are not. However, rechargeable batteries are currently collected and recycled under a voluntary stewardship program operated by Call2Recycle. Rechargeable batteries covered under Call2Recycle’s program and collected for free are: Nickel Cadmium (Ni-CD), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn), and Small Sealed Lead (SSLA/Pb). All cell phones can also be recycled under this program.
What do I have to do to comply with the law?
The primary battery stewardship law prohibits battery producers from selling primary batteries in Vermont unless they participate in an approved stewardship plan that provides free collection and recycling of primary batteries for consumers. Call2Recycle is the organization that submitted a stewardship plan to ANR on behalf of battery producers and their brands, and now coordinates the registration and approval of producer compliance in Vermont as part of the stewardship program.
Please see the primary battery stewardship law summary sheet for more information.
LIST OF APPROVED PRODUCERS For Sale in Vermont
These producers and their brands are registered under an approved primary battery stewardship plan with Call2Recycle, and are compliant with the stewardship law allowing for sales in Vermont. See the official listing of Vermont participating producers on Call2Recycle's producers page.
EXEMPT PRODUCER LIST
These producers meet exemptions outlined in the Primary Stewardship Law and have been approved by the Agency of Natural Resources for sale in Vermont. Therefore, they may sell their primary batteries in Vermont without being registered under an approved stewardship plan, but shall on an annual basis confirm with the Agency that their battery sales still meet this exemption.
- Tenergy
- Essendant
- FDK America, Inc.
- Streamlight, Inc.
- Saft America, Inc.
- UPG
Can multiple manufacturers register together as one stewardship organization?
Yes. Beginning March 1 and annually thereafter, a primary battery stewardship organization shall file a registration form with ANR. A primary battery stewardship organization is an organization appointed by one or more producers to act as an agent on behalf of a producer or producers to design, submit, implement and administer a primary battery stewardship plan. ANR will provide the registration form on its website for primary battery stewardship organizations.
The registration form shall require the following information:
- A list of the participating producers;
- The name, address and contact information of a person responsible for ensuring a producer’s compliance with this chapter;
- A description of how the stewardship organization proposes to meet requirements of participation in a stewardship organization; and
- Name, address and contact information of a person for a nonmember manufacturer to contact on how to participate in the primary battery stewardship organization to satisfy the requirements of this chapter.
Guidance Documents
Quick Reference Guide to Battery Collection Boxes
Primary Battery Stewardship Law Statute
Primary Battery Stewardship Law Summary Sheet (PDF)
Guidance on Primary Battery Stewardship in Vermont: A Breakdown (PDF)
Lithium Battery Fact Sheet (PDF)
Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Batteries (PDF)
E-bike Battery recycling
EPA Resources
Household batteries general info
Lithium-ion battery general info
Lithium-ion battery FAQs
Questions?
Contact Mia Roethlein with questions about the Vermont Primary Battery Stewardship Law at mia.roethlein@vermont.gov, or visit http://www.call2recycle.org/vermont/.
Check out this video for a detailed look at battery safety and risk management.