Battery Recycling

battery.

As part of the University at Buffalo’s overall commitment to environmental stewardship, Environment Health & Safety administers a program to collect and recycle various types of batteries that are generated on campus. This service is restricted to UB faculty, staff and students.

Battery Recycling Receptacles

Battery recycling receptacles are intended for intact and non-leaking alkaline and universal waste batteries only.

Do not place vehicle batteries, trash, gloves, paper, toner cartridges, chemicals, plastic (other than plastic bags containing batteries) in the receptacles.

Vehicle Battery Recycling

Batteries used in vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorcycles and heavy equipment will not be collected under this program.

Alkaline Battery Recycling

The majority of batteries generated at UB are of the alkaline type. They may carry brand names such as Duracell or Energizer. Battery recycling pails are provided at various campus locations to recycle your AAA, AA, C, D and 9 Volt alkaline or carbon zinc batteries.

Recycle alkaline batteries in receptacles placed at the following campus locations:

North Campus

  • Center for the Arts, Room 142.
  • 1Capen.
  • Cooke Hall, Room 354.
  • Crofts Hall, first floor by lobby entrance door.
  • Davis Hall, Electrical Engineering, Room 230S.
  • Ellicott Complex & Governors Residence Hall Offices.
  • Ellicott Complex, 165 Academic Center.
  • Ellicott Complex, 146 Fargo Quad, Campus Dining and Shops (CDS).
  • Fronczak Hall, CAS Instrument Shop, Room 239.
  • Lockwood Library Circulation Desk.
  • 119 Jacobs Management Center Mailroom.

South Campus

  • 1 Diefendorf Hall.
  • 220 Winspear - EH&S Lobby.
  • Goodyear Residence Hall Office.
  • Pharmacy Building, Room 298.
  • Parker Hall, Room 232 (by secondary door).
  • Sherman Hall, Room 123A.
  • Squire Hall 155/156, 260W/Y and 319/320.

Downtown Campus

  • Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences (CBLS) Front Desk.
  • 955 Main Street Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry Stockroom Room 1134.
  • 955 Main Street, Main & High Street Security Office.

Rechargeable or Sealed Lead Acid Battery Recycling

Many batteries contain toxic and hazardous materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, silver and sulfuric acid. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated these as universal wastes rather than hazardous wastes with the goal of promoting recycling. Although not hazardous wastes, these batteries must still be managed in an environmentally correct manner.

Universal wastes cannot be placed in the regular trash. Designated boxes are provided for recycling. Rechargeable batteries must be placed separately in a provided plastic bag. Do not place alkaline or carbon zinc batteries in the designated boxes.

Universal waste batteries include:

  • Nickel cadmium (NiCad): found in cell phones, portable instruments and lap top computers.
  • Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH): found in cell phones, portable instruments and lap top computers.
  • Lithium ion.
  • Mercury.
  • Silver button.
  • Sealed lead acid: commonly used for battery backup applications.

Recycle rechargeable or lead acid batteries in receptacles placed at the following campus locations. You may also recycle at local area stores that provide battery recycling service (Best Buy, Home Depot or Lowe's).

South Campus

  • 111 Sherman Hall.
  • 220 Winspear Ave, EH&S Lobby.

Do you have a full collection pail?

You can request an alkaline battery pickup by placing a work order with University Facilities. Also be sure to request a replacement pail.

Place a work order to have a collection pail serviced