How To Recycle Your Old Power Tool Batteries At Lowe's

Power tools are the backbone of so many projects, ranging from small-scale DIY adventures to professional trade tasks, and their batteries work just as hard as you do. However, all good things must come to an end, and these batteries are no exception. They will eventually reach the end of their useful life and stop holding a charge, even if you remove them before storing them. When that time comes, it's important to remember this one important rule: Do not toss those batteries into your regular household trash. Doing so poses a fire hazard and puts toxic heavy metals into landfills; this threatens both the environment and public health, and nobody wants that.

Fortunately, there is a simple, convenient, and free way to responsibly declutter your used batteries that's probably not too far from your house. You can take your spent power tool batteries to participating Lowe's stores for safe recycling. This service is made possible through Lowe's long-standing partnership with Call2Recycle (it started in 2004), a national non-profit organization that's dedicated to battery collection and recycling. Call2Recycle is the country's largest such program, and it makes sure all donated batteries are properly sorted, processed, and then converted into raw materials for new uses. By taking advantage of this program, you can make sure your old batteries are handled responsibly, keep hazardous waste out of landfills, and make a direct impact on the sustainability of your tools.

Recycling power tool batteries at Lowe's is easy to do, with one quick step you'll need to take to ensure maximum safety. To begin, locate your nearest participating store. Most Lowe's locations in the U.S. offer this program, and you can find the closest drop-off site to you by using the locator tool on Call2Recycle's website. Once you arrive, look for the dedicated recycling station; this will most likely be just inside the front doors or by the customer service booth. The recycling bins may be standalone or near other recycling bins for differing material types (like CFL bulbs or plastic bags).

Before placing any of your old batteries into the designated slot, though, you need to follow Call2Recycle's safety procedures in order to prevent fire hazards. For batteries that contain lithium, as power tool batteries often do, the most important step is protecting the terminals, or the contact points at the end where electricity flows. This is crucial because if the terminals touch other batteries when they aren't protected or they happen to come into contact with metal objects, they can create a spark that can lead to a fire. You can easily cover the terminals of your spent batteries by placing each entire battery in its own clear plastic bag or by covering the exposed metal of the terminals with clear packing tape or non-conductive electrical tape. This simple trick helps avoid fires from old batteries and ensures that they make it all the way to the recycling center.