Batteries disposal in Illinois
What Illinois says to do with batteries, read off Illinois EPA's own page on 2026-08-19.
Illinois' Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act put single-use and rechargeable household batteries into a producer-funded collection program starting January 1, 2026 — Illinois EPA says do not put unwanted batteries in curbside trash or curbside recycling bins. Read from Illinois EPA · checked 2026-08-19
To prevent fires from lithium-ion batteries, tape battery terminals and/or place batteries in separate plastic bags and never put these batteries in household garbage or recycling bins (US EPA).
Do not dispose of unwanted batteries in curbside trash or curbside recycling bins — please visit an approved drop-off location (Illinois EPA).
Where to take it
Sites are listed in the The Battery Network (Illinois battery stewardship program) drop-off site finder.
The statute Illinois cites is P.A. 103-1033 (SB 3686) — Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act.
Counties differ — verify with your local program.
All 50 states: Can you throw away batteries? — the federal baseline, what happens to it, and every state's rule with the page it was read from.