How to dispose of car batteries
Do your wallet a favor and return your old car battery.
When it's time to replace your car battery, you may wonder what to do with the old one. Improper disposal can be hazardous to the environment and human health due to the toxic chemicals inside car batteries. The good news? Many places accept old car batteries for safe recycling—and some even offer cash or a refund for returning them.
This guide will show you how to safely dispose of your old car battery, where to recycle it, and how to get back your core charge refund.
Old car battery dos and don'ts
What you shouldn't do
- Never throw a car battery in the trash – It contains hazardous materials that can leak and contaminate soil and water.
- Avoid leaving it in your garage for too long – Over time, corrosion or leaks can cause harm to your space and belongings.
- Do not attempt to dismantle it yourself – Car batteries contain dangerous acids and heavy metals that require professional handling.
What you should do
- Store the battery safely – Keep it in an upright position, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
- Look for recycling options – Many retailers, auto shops, and recycling centers will accept used car batteries and offer compensation.
- Take advantage of core charge refunds – If you paid a core charge when purchasing your new battery, returning the old one can get you that money back.
Where to recycle old car batteries
Most car batteries include a core charge, a deposit you pay upfront and can reclaim when recycling the old battery. Below are common places that accept car batteries for proper disposal.
Auto Parts Stores (most offer core charge refunds)
- AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA Auto Parts – Accept old car batteries and typically refund the core charge if you buy a new one.
- Walmart & Costco Auto Centers – If you purchased a battery from them, you can return your old one for a core charge refund when getting a replacement.
Battery Retailers & Dealerships (refund varies)
- Interstate Batteries & Batteries Plus – These locations accept old car batteries, but refund policies vary by store.
- Car Dealerships – Some dealerships accept old car batteries, especially if you're replacing them during service.
Recycling Centers & Scrap Yards (may offer cash instead of refunds)
- Local Hazardous Waste Facilities – Many municipal recycling programs accept car batteries but typically do not offer a refund.
- Metal Scrap Yards & Recycling Centers – Some offer cash for old car batteries based on their lead content.
If your core charge refund is denied, it could be because:
- You didn’t originally purchase the battery from the retailer.
- The battery is damaged beyond normal wear and tear.
- The store has specific refund restrictions.
Who can safely dispose of dead car batteries in bulk?
If you have multiple old car batteries or other junk to remove, a professional junk removal service can be a convenient solution. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? makes it easy by handling pickup and proper recycling for you.
Frequently asked questions
We price based on how much space your items take up in the back of our truck, broken down into ⅛, ¼, ½, ¾ of a truckload, all the way up to a full truckload. Our trucks hold the equivalent of seven pickup trucks.
Our prices vary based on location and there is a minimum charge for our teams to remove your items, which is different in each location, based on a number of factors, including local disposal and recycling fees.
We offer single item pricing for certain items such as mattresses or TVs, sometimes this will be less than our minimum charge.
For materials that have a heavy cubic weight like dirt, concrete, and gravel, pricing is based on the total volume that the material takes up in the truck, up to a maximum of one foot in height for a full truck.
Watch us load up a truck to see how our standard pricing works!
If you need service weekly, monthly, or quarterly, we offer bulk pricing discounts. This gives you better value compared to common alternatives, such as dumpsters or less professional junk removal services.
Interested? Call our business account team at 1-888-475-3461 to discuss your needs as well as pricing options.
On the day of your appointment with us, our friendly, uniformed truck team members will give you a call or text 25-30 mins before we arrive to let you know we’re on our way.
Whether your business has a single location or multiple locations, we can create a custom junk removal solution that works for you. We can coordinate pickups at multiple locations at a local, regional, and national level. Rather than work with dozens of regional or local companies, let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? handle the jobs across all your locations.
Absolutely! We take large items all the time. As long as it can be lifted and loaded into the truck by two people, we'll be happy to take it away for you!
We work with all types of businesses and can handle any type of job - cleanouts, bulk item removal, general junk removal and even specific items like cardboard or pallets. We can take pretty much anything as long as it's not toxic or hazardous. We can remove your items from wherever they’re located, whether it’s your office, store, site or anywhere else—all you have to do is point!
Yes, we're fully licensed, bonded and insured! We have insurance covering damages to both persons and property for every single booking.
While we don't quite service the entire map, we cover almost every greater metropolitan area across the US, Canada, and Australia. To see if we’re in your neighborhood, you can start a booking by entering your zip code here.
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