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A drawer of dead batteries and a box of old bulbs are two of the most common household leftovers. Both carry real risks if handled wrong. Batteries can spark fires when a truck compacts them. Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. That is why neither goes in Palo Alto's carts, with one small exception for old incandescent bulbs.
This guide gives the right route for each kind of battery and bulb, explains the free curbside option on Clean Up Day and sums up the state programs that are changing how batteries are recycled. It is based on the city's household hazardous waste and curbside pages, GreenWaste of Palo Alto's material guide and newsletters and CalRecycle, checked in November 2026. For the station's full list and hours, see our household hazardous waste guide.
Quick guide
| Item | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, 9-volt (alkaline and other non-lithium) | Clean Up Day bag or HHW station |
| Nickel-cadmium rechargeables | Clean Up Day bag or HHW station |
| Lithium coin cells, lithium AAs, lithium-ion packs | HHW station only |
| Phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds and other devices with built-in batteries | HHW station only |
| Car batteries | HHW station (call first) or a retailer take-back |
| Fluorescent tubes, CFLs and ballasts | HHW station |
| LED bulbs | HHW station |
| Incandescent and halogen bulbs | Black garbage cart |
| Mercury thermometers, thermostats and switches | HHW station |
Why batteries never go in a cart
GreenWaste's winter 2025 newsletter put it bluntly: batteries are household hazardous waste and should never go in your compost, recycle or landfill carts. Lithium and lithium-ion batteries, along with small electronics that contain them, can ignite when crushed. When one ends up in a truck, it can overheat and start a fire while the driver is on the route or later at the sorting plant. The newsletter says these fires are becoming more frequent.
The statewide numbers back that up. CalRecycle's battery page calls batteries the top cause of fires at California waste facilities. It estimates that 7,294 tons of batteries are thrown away improperly in landfills each year.
Batteries on Clean Up Day
Palo Alto stopped taking batteries in weekly curbside recycling some years ago. The one curbside option left is Clean Up Day, the twice-yearly pickup for single-family homes. On that day GreenWaste collects:
- AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries.
- Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd or NiCad) and other cadmium batteries.
Follow these steps from the city's curbside page and GreenWaste's Clean Up Day page:
- Tape the terminals of each battery with non-conductive tape, such as electrical, duct or masking tape. For 9-volts, cover both posts.
- Put them in a sealed, clear, tear-resistant bag. GreenWaste provides these bags free.
- Place the bag on top of your blue cart or on top of your other Clean Up Day items, never on the ground.
Lithium and lithium-ion batteries are not accepted at the curb, including phone, laptop, camera, car and rechargeable batteries. Find your Clean Up Day dates as described in our bulky item pickup guide.
Everything else: the HHW station
The city's Household Hazardous Waste Station at 2501 Embarcadero Way takes every kind of household battery, from AAs to lithium-ion packs, plus small electronics with embedded batteries. The station is open every Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. and the first Friday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. It serves Palo Alto residents; bring a driver's license or vehicle registration. You stay in your car while staff unload your trunk.
Upcoming closures listed by the city include Saturday, November 28, 2026, Saturday, December 26, 2026 and January 1 and 2, 2027. If you have a physical limitation that makes the trip hard, the city offers at-home pickup with a doctor-signed application. Call (650) 496-5910. Older residents can find more help in our resources for older adults.
Storing batteries until your trip
- Tape the terminals of lithium and 9-volt batteries as soon as they come out of a device.
- Keep them in a non-metal container with a lid, away from heat and out of reach of children.
- Bag any swollen, cracked or leaking battery separately and take it in soon.
- Never put a damaged lithium battery back on a charger.
Car and other large batteries
The sources disagree slightly on lead-acid car batteries. The city's hazardous waste page lists car batteries among accepted automotive items. GreenWaste's spring 2026 newsletter also says auto batteries can go to the station. An older city FAQ lists car batteries among items the station does not take. Call Zero Waste Palo Alto before you load one. Retailers that sell car batteries commonly take the old one back. Our car care guide covers local shops.
E-bike, scooter and power tool packs are lithium-ion and go to the station, never in a cart. Home backup batteries and EV batteries are a job for the installer or manufacturer. Our solar and batteries guide covers home systems.
Light bulbs
Bulbs split into two groups.
Take to the HHW station
The city's hazardous waste page lists fluorescent tubes, bulbs and ballasts and LED bulbs as accepted. Compact fluorescents and tubes contain a small amount of mercury, which is why they are hazardous. LEDs contain electronics. Carry tubes in their original sleeve or a long box so they do not break in the car. The GreenWaste material guide also lists fluorescent lights and LED lights as household hazardous waste. One exception: the city says non-PCB ballasts can go in the blue cart.
Put in the garbage
Incandescent and halogen bulbs do not contain mercury. GreenWaste's material guide puts them in the black landfill cart under glass. Wrap them so they do not cut anyone if they break.
If a fluorescent bulb breaks
Air out the room and keep people and pets away from the pieces. Do not vacuum them. Collect the fragments carefully, seal them in a jar or bag and take them to the HHW station. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes detailed cleanup steps for broken fluorescent bulbs.
State battery programs
California is building a producer-funded system for batteries, but it is not fully running yet.
- Loose batteries. The Responsible Battery Recycling Act, passed as AB 2440, will require producers to fund free collection of most loose batteries. CalRecycle held a rulemaking workshop on June 16, 2026. Regulations were not final in November 2026. The program then phases in over several years.
- Battery-embedded products. Under SB 1215, consumers have paid a recycling fee when buying many products with hard-to-remove batteries since January 1, 2026. That money funds collection through the state's electronic waste program. Our e-waste recycling guide explains where those devices go.
Until the loose battery program is running, the city's station and Clean Up Day remain the free options for Palo Alto residents.
Using fewer
Rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries cut the pile for remotes, toys and flashlights. LED bulbs last many times longer than incandescents, so you replace them rarely. Our power outages guide covers keeping the right batteries on hand for emergencies without overstocking.
Good to know
- No batteries in any cart, ever.
- Alkaline and NiCd batteries can go out on Clean Up Day in a sealed clear bag with terminals taped.
- Lithium batteries and devices with built-in batteries go to the HHW station only.
- CFLs, tubes and LEDs go to the HHW station. Incandescent and halogen bulbs go in the garbage.
- Questions: (650) 496-5910 or [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Where can I recycle batteries in Palo Alto?
Take any household battery, including lithium and lithium-ion, to the city's Household Hazardous Waste Station at 2501 Embarcadero Way. It is open every Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. and the first Friday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. for Palo Alto residents. Alkaline and other non-lithium household batteries can also go out on your Clean Up Day.
Can I put batteries in the trash in Palo Alto?
No. Batteries never go in the blue, green or black cart. GreenWaste says crushed batteries can overheat and start fires in trucks and at processing plants. CalRecycle calls batteries the leading cause of fires at California waste facilities.
How do I put batteries out on Clean Up Day?
Tape the terminals with electrical, duct or masking tape. Put AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, 9-volt and nickel-cadmium batteries in a sealed, clear, tear-resistant bag and place it on top of your blue cart or other Clean Up Day items, not on the ground. Lithium and lithium-ion batteries are not accepted at the curb.
How do I dispose of CFL and LED bulbs in Palo Alto?
Fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, ballasts and LED bulbs go to the Household Hazardous Waste Station. Fluorescent lights contain mercury. Incandescent and halogen bulbs are not hazardous and go in the black garbage cart.
Does the Palo Alto hazardous waste station take car batteries?
The city's hazardous waste page lists car batteries under accepted automotive items and GreenWaste's spring 2026 newsletter says auto batteries can go to the station. An older city FAQ lists car batteries as not accepted, so call (650) 496-5910 before you bring one. Many auto parts stores also take old car batteries back.