Under no circumstances should batteries be disposed of in household waste. If you think about proper disposal, you can save resources and protect the environment. According to surveys by the Federal Environment Agency, around half of the batteries sold in Germany are not disposed of properly.
Why batteries don’t belong in household waste
In Germany, around 1.5 billion batteries are sold every year, which amounts to more than 20 per consumer. The Federal Environment Agency reports that not even half of the batteries sold are disposed of correctly.
Incorrect disposal pollutes the environment as pollutants are released. Valuable resources that are still contained in the empty batteries are lost.
Zinc and manganese from these batteries could still be used and would not have to be increasingly mined.
The old batteries do not belong in the household waste or in the yellow bin or yellow bag. They can pose a serious threat to the environment as they release pollutants such as cadmium, lead and, in small quantities, mercury. There is a risk that lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries can easily ignite due to a short circuit.
Battery law implementation law for the disposal of batteries
The Battery Law Implementation Act (BattDG) has been in force in Germany since August 18, 2025 and was enacted to reduce the environmental impact of improper disposal of batteries. It replaced the old battery law (BattG).
The Battery Law Implementation Act obliges retailers and manufacturers to take back old batteries free of charge. Retail stores and manufacturers are obliged to provide collection systems for old battery types. With the new law, the federal government wants to make it easier for consumers to return batteries and ensure that more old batteries are returned and disposed of properly.
Dispose of batteries correctly – it is possible
In principle, old batteries can be returned to all sales points where batteries and accumulators are sold. These include electronics stores, department stores, gas stations, but also drugstores and supermarkets. There are green collection boxes for standard household batteries. Sometimes there are also yellow boxes in which high-energy batteries are collected.
Municipal recycling centers accept larger batteries, which include batteries from e-bikes and car batteries. These larger batteries can also be sold at specialist retailers if they are part of the range. If you buy a new car battery and at the same time hand in an old car battery at this point of sale, you will even get the deposit money back.
Sometimes batteries can leak, which is indicated by a crystalline liquid. The batteries should only be touched with a cloth or gloves as this liquid poses a health risk. The spilled liquid is wiped off with a cloth. Leaked batteries can also be returned to the collection points.
Rechargeable batteries as an alternative to batteries
Rechargeable batteries are a sensible alternative to batteries because they last longer and therefore do not have to be disposed of as quickly. They are suitable for frequently used devices in which the batteries are changed more frequently than every two months.
Although batteries are more expensive to purchase than batteries, they can save money in the long term because they can be recharged again and again.
There are special chargers for the batteries.
Dispose less by eliminating batteries
Batteries are not environmentally friendly to produce as they require a lot of resources and energy. The production of batteries requires hundreds of times the amount of energy provided by the finished batteries.
Batteries are unnecessary in stationary devices that only operate near a power outlet. Instead of devices with batteries, devices with a power cord can be purchased. This applies, for example, to electric toothbrushes, razors or drills.
Electrical household appliances are not always necessary. Can openers or pencil sharpeners do not need to be battery operated. Simple devices for manual operation are significantly cheaper and more sustainable.
