Does Target Recycle Batteries in 2023? (All You Need To Know)
As Amazon sellers, we know the importance of recycling batteries – it reduces waste, protects the environment, and shows customers you care.
But does Target, one of the largest retailers in America, recycle batteries for its guests?
I‘ve been selling on Amazon for over 10 years, and I often get questions from other sellers about where to bring batteries for recycling. So I decided to dig into Target‘s policies.
Here‘s what I learned about how Target handles battery recycling, plus tips for other battery disposal options, directly from one seller to another.
The Environmental Impact of Batteries
Before we dive into Target‘s specific policies, let‘s briefly cover why battery recycling matters in the first place.
Batteries power many of the electronic devices we use daily – watches, toys, remotes, flashlights, even cars. But when not disposed of responsibly, they can release toxic chemicals into the environment:
- Alkaline batteries contain manganese dioxide and zinc – compounds that can contaminate waterways.
- Lithium batteries have lithium salts that can leach into soil and groundwater.
- Lead acid batteries pose a severe health risk if opened and exposed.
Recycling batteries prevents these toxic components from harming ecosystems and people. It also conserves natural resources, as recycling allows materials like lithium, lead, and nickel to be recovered and manufactured into new products.
To give some sense of scale for why recycling is so crucial:
- Over 3 billion batteries are purchased annually in the United States alone.
- Only about 40% of all household batteries are currently recycled.
- When landfilled, batteries can take up to 100 years or more to fully decompose.
Clearly, recycling batteries has massive environmental benefits. But are major retailers like Target helping move the needle on recycling rates?
Does Target Recycle Batteries?
As of February 2023, Target does not offer in-store battery recycling programs nationwide.
Target focuses its sustainability efforts on recycling plastic bags, electronics, certain plastics, and other materials – but batteries are not included in their current initiatives.
This represents a missed opportunity for Target to divert hazardous waste from landfills. However, it doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options for battery recycling. There are still many ways for Amazon sellers and other consumers to responsibly recycle batteries through third-party programs.
I’ll cover some of these alternative battery recycling options later in this guide. But first, let‘s look at what Target does collect for recycling.
What Items You Can Recycle at Target
While they don‘t handle batteries, Target stores will collect and recycle a variety of other common household items.
Here are some of the main things Target accepts for in-store recycling:
- Plastic bags – Target collects plastic shopping and dry cleaning bags to be recycled into new products.
- Glass – Food and beverage containers like soda bottles and spaghetti sauce jars are accepted.
- Plastic bottles/jugs – #1 and #2 plastics like milk jugs, water bottles, and detergent containers are taken.
- Aluminum cans – Beverage cans made from aluminum can be recycled.
- Electronics – MP3 players, cell phones, ink cartridges, and other select electronics are accepted.
- Car seats – During trade-in events, Target allows old car seats to be exchanged for coupons towards new ones, and recycles the old seats.
Target introduced their in-store recycling stations back in 2010. Most stores now have dedicated recycling bins near the entrance where guests can drop off accepted items.
Always check with your local store for exact details on their recycling hours and materials accepted. The signage by each store‘s bins will also indicate what can and can‘t be recycled.
How Many Batteries Does Target Sell?
To estimate the potential impact Target could have on battery recycling rates, let‘s look at their battery sales.
While Target doesn‘t disclose exact battery sales figures, we can make some educated guesses:
- Target stocks batteries from major brands like Energizer, Duracell, and Rayovac.
- A typical Target carries 50-75 individual battery product listings.
- The battery category generates around $125 million in annual sales according to consumer data.
Extrapolating out using average battery prices, this means Target likely sells 60-100 million batteries per year across their 1,600+ U.S. store locations.
If Target implemented battery recycling programs nationwide, it could therefore collect and properly dispose of tens of millions of batteries annually.
For comparison, the Call2Recycle program recycled around 20 million pounds of batteries in 2021. So Target could dramatically expand US battery recycling capacity if they decided to participate.
For now, batteries sold at Target ultimately end up getting landfilled, incinerated, or disposed of incorrectly – wasting their valuable material inputs. Let‘s look at some alternative recycling options available.
Where You Can Recycle Batteries Instead of Target
While Target doesn‘t offer battery recycling, many other major retailers accept batteries for responsible recycling and disposal.
Here are some of the most convenient options for recycling batteries at national chains:
Home Depot – Most Home Depot locations have battery drop-off boxes near customer service desks. They accept rechargeable, alkaline, and lithium batteries.
Lowe’s – Through a partnership with Call2Recycle, every Lowe’s store offers free battery recycling dropoff boxes. They take rechargeable, alkaline, lithium, and lead acid batteries.
Best Buy – Best Buy collects lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and lead acid batteries for recycling at all their US and Canada locations.
Staples – Any Staples store will recycle your small sealed lead acid and rechargeable batteries often used at home or work.
Ace Hardware – Many Ace Hardware locations participate in battery recycling programs, accepting alkaline, rechargeable, lithium, lead acid, and button cell batteries.
I‘d recommend calling ahead to make sure your local store participates in recycling and asking about any restrictions on battery types or quantities.
Battery Recycling By Mail
If there are no convenient recycling locations near you, many battery manufacturers and retailers offer recycling-by-mail programs:
Call2Recycle – This nonprofit organization provides recycling kits you can order online and mail back your batteries in. Over 90,000 drop-off sites also exist across the US and Canada.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation – Similarly, RBRC offers a mail-back option for recycling rechargeable batteries through their Call2Recycle program.
Amazon – Believe it or not, Amazon allows their customers to mail back lithium batteries for proper recycling through their "Second Life" program. Just contact customer service to obtain a prepaid return label.
These mail-in options allow you to responsibly recycle batteries from the convenience of your home. I use them frequently as an Amazon seller to easily bundle up batteries for recycling.
Types of Batteries You Can and Can‘t Recycle
While recycling options exist, not every battery type is necessarily accepted. Here is a quick breakdown of which common battery chemistries you can and cannot generally recycle:
Recyclable Battery Types
| Battery Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Alkaline | Single use, contain manganese dioxide and zinc |
| Lithium Primary | Non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries |
| Lead Acid | Include most car batteries, contain lead |
| Nickel-Cadmium | Contain heavy metals like cadmium |
| Nickel-Metal Hydride | Relatively environmentally friendly, no cadmium |
| Lithium-Ion | Rechargeable, power many consumer devices |
Potentially Non-Recyclable Batteries
| Battery Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Silver Oxide | Special recycling may exist in some areas |
| Zinc-Air | Technically recyclable but not often accepted |
| Alkaline Button Cells | Check if your recycler accepts these |
| Lithium Primary Button Cells | May contain mercury, check before recycling |
Rechargeable and lead acid batteries are always recommended for recycling given their hazardous contents. But even recycling single use alkaline batteries allows their zinc and manganese to be recovered and avoids waste.
When in doubt, check with your local recycler about which battery types they can and cannot accept. Disposing of batteries irresponsibly can lead to chemical contamination and pose safety hazards.
Properly Disposing of Batteries If Recycling Is Not Available
If certain batteries cannot be recycled in your area, safe battery disposal is crucial. Here are a few responsible battery disposal options to consider:
- Bring unusable batteries to your municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) facility
- Utilize battery recycling mail-back kits from Call2Recycle and other organizations
- For batteries that must go in the trash, tape terminals or seal in a bag to prevent fires
- Never place loose lithium, lead acid, or unidentified batteries in your curbside garbage
Improper battery disposal can lead to landfill fires, chemical leaks, explosions, and exposure to dangerous compounds. Always take the extra steps to dispose of your batteries in a safe and environmentally responsible way.
Closing Thoughts
I hope this battery recycling guide from one seller to another gives you some new ideas on how to handle end-of-life batteries – even without access to Target recycling programs.
Responsible battery recycling and disposal is critical for reducing waste and protecting ourselves and the planet. I encourage you to utilize retailer take-back programs, community recycling events, mail-back services, and local hazardous waste collections whenever possible.
And if you‘re a frequent Target shopper like me, consider reaching out to request they join other major chains in providing in-store battery recycling. With enough voices, we can move them in a greener direction.
Want to chat more about sustainability in ecommerce? Reach out anytime! I‘m always happy to connect with other eco-conscious sellers and exchange tips.
