Steph 
If you’ve ever wondered or questioned where to drop off batteries in Hoboken and Jersey City (because you shouldn’t be throwing them out,) you’ve asked a great question. After all, batteries contain chemicals, hazardous materials, and waste — all toxic to the environment. By simply throwing batteries in the regular household trash, you’re exposing the environment and others to some potentially dangerous hazards. In February 2025, the City of Hoboken implemented new battery fire safety laws to prevent fast-spreading and potentially deadly fires caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries. In a recent press release dated January 12, 2026, the Hoboken Fire Department reminded residents that lithium-ion batteries must never be disposed of in household trash or recycling bins. Here’s everything you need to know about safely disposing of batteries in Hoboken. Read on to find out where to drop off batteries in Hoboken + Jersey City, New Jersey.
What to Know About Battery Disposal
The household trash is designed for common waste and food waste (but don’t forget about local composting options found here.) When batteries are thrown in the mix, the people who handle the garbage, work at the landfills, and work in water supply become exposed.
Sure, there’s some debate about whether or not it’s safe to dispose of regular alkaline batteries in the trash. Quartz reports that it’s totally fine, as most batteries aren’t made with mercury anymore like they were until the early-to-mid 1990s. We can thank the 1996 Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act for the “phasing out” of mercury in our batteries; though some batteries can still contain trace contaminants of mercury today. Aside from “special” batteries like car, watch, and rechargeable batteries, battery companies like Duracell and Energizer maintain that throwing away alkaline batteries is totally safe. Even the City website says alkaline batteries may be disposed in the household garbage.
Read More: A Guide to Resident Resources in Hoboken, New Jersey
But remember: Not everyone agrees batteries should just be chucked out. The Environmental Health + Safety department at UC Santa Cruz maintains that all batteries should be properly recycled rather than discarded in household trash. Residential Waste Systems also concurs, citing a few of the toxic wastes that batteries are still made with today. Especially if your batteries aren’t alkaline, you’re going to want to recycle them properly. Despite the debate on alkaline batteries, lead-acid batteries are not supposed to be thrown in the household garbage under any circumstance. Instead, they must be recycled.
These include — but are not limited to — cadmium, lithium, lead, mercury, manganese, and potassium. Because of these toxic substances, batteries require a unique recycling process in order to be disposed of correctly.
According to Residential Waste Systems, batteries go to a hammer mill, where they are smashed. Here, the liquid toxins leak out and those metals are swept away and disposed of separately from the rest of the battery. The toxins go into containment, which separate themselves, thanks to gravity. Then, each individual toxin is disposed of in an environmentally way, based on the chemical and toxin that it is. In landfills, batteries do not require this kind of recycling attention. That’s why it’s important to dispose of batteries correctly.
So, now that you know all the reasons you shouldn’t throw a battery in the trash, what’s the correct way to dispose of them?
Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Laws in Hoboken
On Tuesday, January 12, 2026, the City of Hoboken issued a public safety reminder regarding the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries due to the fire hazards associated with improper handling. The reminder follows a recent incident in which the Hoboken Fire Department responded to reports of an electronic burning smell after a lithium-ion battery was discarded down a trash chute, resulting in smoke within the chute.
Hoboken fire officials emphasized that lithium-ion batteries should never be placed in household trash, recycling bins, or trash chutes, as they pose a significant fire risk. Residents are advised to dispose of old, defective, or damaged lithium-ion batteries at approved drop-off locations, including retail take-back programs, hazardous waste facilities, and community collection events.
Spots for Disposal
First, you could drop batteries off at a battery bank. Battery banks exist in high traffic areas of our communities and you might be surprised to find out which of our local stores take your old batteries:
- Staples | 613 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City
- Home Depot | 180 12th Street, Jersey City
In Hoboken, alkaline batteries (your typical household batteries) can be disposed of in regular household garbage. The City of Hoboken shared that for 9-volt batteries, the Division of Sanitation recommends placing a piece of electrical tape over the terminals to prevent any potential contact with metal, which could generate heat. For rechargeable batteries, such as cell phone, laptop, or car batteries, proper disposal is required. These batteries can be dropped off at the City’s Public Works facility at 1501 Madison Street Monday through Friday from 9AM to 4PM.
In Jersey City, alkaline batteries can be disposed of in regular household garbage. Rechargeable batteries should be brought to the City’s hazardous waste drop-off events. The next hazardous waste drop-off date is currently to be determined. In the meantime, residents can drop off hazardous waste items, including rechargeable batteries, at the Department of Public Works headquarters at 15-17 Linden Avenue E, Jersey City, NJ, Monday through Friday from 9AM to 3PM.
