Whether it’s AA batteries in your remote or the coin cell batteries in hearing aids, it’s important to recycle every battery correctly. It can be confusing when you’re told something is recyclable but not in regular curbside pickup. If it’s not in your cart, then where do these batteries belong?
“One crucial thing we wish people understood is that even though their hearts may be in the right place, batteries should not go in bins,” said WM Senior Account Executive Shanna Lopez. “Those decisions, while made with good intentions, are not right and can be dangerous for our communities and teams throughout the disposal process.”
Household batteries are considered hazardous waste and can contain valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt or lithium, so they don’t belong in the trash either. In American alone, each person discards about eight batteries a year (9-volt, D, C, AA, AAA), amounting to more than 2.5 billion batteries annually – making this is an important dilemma to solve!
“Lithium-ion batteries that are thrown into dumpsters or bins can be damaged or punctured during the collection process, causing them to rapidly heat up and cause fires that can damage trucks, facilities and put workers and the public in danger,” said Lopez.
Two battery collection bins on a table with battery recycling signs in front
While batteries cannot go in curbside carts, they can be brought to local drop-off locations. As part of ongoing fire prevention and safety efforts, The Woodlands Environmental Services and The Woodlands Fire Department introduced a new household battery recycling program in October 2025 at Central Fire Station, 9951 Grogan’s Mill Road. Residents can safely drop off used household batteries weighing less than 11 pounds (no automotive or car batteries). This program provides all members of the community with a safe and convenient way to dispose of batteries that could otherwise pose a fire risk.
If you’re looking for additional options, for most Woodlands Township residents, household and automotive batteries can be recycled at the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Recycling Facility. If you are a Creekside Village resident, or if you live elsewhere in Harris County, additional options can be found easily with our new Recycle Right online widget! Simply type in the item you’d like to dispose of (such as a car battery or disposable battery), and we’ll tell you exactly what to do with it.
Every March, The Woodlands Township hosts a Recycling Drive-Thru, during which household batteries of all varieties (no car batteries) are accepted. If you have any questions about where to dispose of your batteries in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Environmental Services.
For more information, contact the Environmental Services Department at enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or 281-210-3800.