Battery recycling
How to dispose of a car battery
A car battery cannot go in your household bin. Take it to a tip, a garage or a scrap yard that accepts car batteries.
Car batteries are hazardous waste
Recycle Now says that by law car batteries must not go with household waste. In England and Wales, GOV.UK finds your council hazardous waste service from your postcode.
The garage that fits the new one
The garage or fitter who replaces your battery may be able to dispose of the old one for you.
Tips
Many tips take car batteries. Shop battery boxes do not, because shops only have to take back small portable batteries.
Scrap yards
Scrap metal yards collect car batteries too. In England and Wales a scrap dealer cannot pay you in cash.
Key facts
- Binmap lists 103 places that say they take car batteries, including 102 tips.
- Another 418 places may take car batteries, but they do not say so. Check before you go.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Written by Binmap using guidance from Recycle Now and GOV.UK.
Pages from the organisations involved
Advice from national bodies
What to do
- Find a tip, garage or scrap yard that lists car batteries.
- Ask the garage that fits your new battery whether it will take the old one.
Mistakes to avoid
- Shop battery boxes are for small household batteries. Shops do not have to take car batteries.
Kinds of place that take it
- Specialist disposal points
- Recycling centres
Guides for similar items
Other kinds of place
Schemes and collection services
Binmap is independent and is not run by any council.