Where do dead lithium batteries go when they die? 

Experts have a definitive answer for this particular afterlife question. Dead batteries should go to battery disposal sites, not in a trash can or a desk drawer. 

“Lithium batteries contain materials that should not go into the landfill. They should be recycled and disposed of properly,” said Peter Clevering, director of marketing and communications for Homewood Disposal Service. 

Improper disposal of a lithium battery can be extremely dangerous and can result in thermal runaway, which has been described as a chain reaction that causes a battery to heat up very quickly.

Lithium batteries can cause fires that are almost impossible to extinguish and can reach dangerously high temperatures, said Homewood Fire chief Robert Grabowski. 

Water doesn’t put them out. Dry agents don’t work. The fires often just have to burn out, which can take time. In cases like that, firefighters cordon off the area to keep everyone safe, Grabowski said.

An average fire can reach a scorching 1,000 degrees, Grabowski said. But a fire caused by a lithium battery burns even hotter. It can jump from 212 degrees to 1,800 degrees in a second and even burn as hot as 2,000 degrees, according to BatterySafetyNow.com, a website that offers consumers helpful battery safety information.

Grabowski has seen the effects of lithium battery fires firsthand, but thankfully no one was injured in any of the incidents, he said.

Lithium batteries also can leak toxins into the soil. 

Safe battery disposal has prompted legislation in several states, including Illinois. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Portable and Medium Format Battery Stewardship Act into law in 2024. 

In January of 2026, “Producers selling batteries in Illinois are now required to participate in an approved Battery Stewardship plan. This effort will ensure expanded battery disposal options for all Illinois residents,” according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency website.

Clevering welcomes the news because it will help keep consumers and garbage truck drivers safe.

“It’s a good thing from our perspective. It creates places to bring the batteries,” Clevering said.

When people toss lithium batteries into the trash, they can cause fires within the garbage trucks when the blades used to crush or compact the trash pierce the lithium battery, Clevering said. 

Consumers can find sites to dispose of their used batteries at websites such as BatterySafetyNow.com, Clevering said. Grabowski said consumers also can check at big box hardware stores such as Home Depot, Menards or Lowe’s, which often offer battery disposal services.

They also can find drop off sites at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s website at this link.

People sometimes have problems differentiating between lithium and alkaline batteries, Clevering said. Lithium batteries can be found in devices such as watches, phones, laptops, scooters and electric cars, just to name a few, he said, 

“Anything that’s rechargeable uses a lithium battery,” Clevering said.

To avoid lithium battery fires, Grawowski encourages consumers to always heed the manufacturer’s charging instructions. Use the proper charging devices and if a warning light or alert comes on, don’t ignore it. Stop charging the device, he said.

For batteries that are still in good condition and usable, follow these safety tips from BatterySafetyNow.com.

1. Use the charger that came with the device.
2. Keep the device and the batteries out of the heat to prevent them from heating up and igniting.
3. Store the items and batteries in a cool, dry place to keep their internal temperature down.

BatterySafetyNow.com offers these tips for how to remove and dispose of dead batteries.

1. Remove the batteries from the device.
2. Tape the terminals: Cover the ends of the batteries with clear tape, especially the contact points. This helps prevent sparks.
3. Make a plan: Different batteries may need different return options. 
4. Turn them in: Find a battery drop-off location. Return your batteries.

There are battery return boxes available for safe battery disposal as well.

Battery safety also has a feathery spokesperson in Woodsy Owl. A U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service mascot, Woodsy Owl was known for his popular catch phrase “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute.”

Woodsy Owl’s new catch phrase, part of a national campaign, is designed to promote safe battery disposal. In PSA’s and public appearances Woodsy Owl encourages consumers: “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In.”