JACKSON, Wyo. — Got some dead batteries kicking around? Do not throw them away in a regular garbage can.
Following a battery-related fire at the Teton County Trash Transfer Station on Wednesday and an earlier garbage truck fire also linked to improperly disposed batteries, Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling (ISWR) shared some tips for battery disposal.
“For both environmental and fire safety reasons, batteries should not be disposed of in the trash,” ISWR stated in a Thursday press release.
Household batteries of all kinds – including alkaline, rechargeable and lead-acid car batteries – can be processed at the Teton County Recycling Center (3270 S. Adams Canyon Drive) during regular business hours. Batteries can never be accepted in standard recycling bins. They are banned from the Trash Transfer Station due to the major fire hazards associated with them.
According to the ISWR website, battery drop-off is available 24/7 using the shelving unit next to the Recycling Center office, “except for compromised or leaking batteries, which must be dropped off during business hours for safe handling.” Traditional vehicle batteries should be left at the office, or placed near the battery bins if after hours.
Note that processing certain batteries might carry a small fee, which ISWR uses to offset the cost of safe transport and disposal, per its website.
Large lithium batteries, which often power e-bikes and electric vehicles, cannot be processed at the recycling center. Those should be returned to the manufacturer or retailer. Learn more about lithium battery disposal here.
