Button cell batteries, small power sources in watches and hearing aids, pose environmental and safety risks if not recycled properly, according to Earth911. The guide emphasizes recovering valuable materials like silver and lithium while preventing fires and child injuries. As of early 2026, eight states plus the District of Columbia have laws requiring producers to fund recycling programs.
Button cell batteries are tiny, flat, round units powering devices such as watches, hearing aids, car key fobs, calculators, and medical equipment. Despite their size, they hold recoverable materials including silver and lithium, but improper disposal adds heavy metals to landfills and risks fires from lithium types.
The recycling challenges stem from their small dimensions and mixed collection, leading most to end up in household trash. Lithium coin cells (CR series), common in watches and key fobs, contain lithium metal that ignites if wet or damaged. Silver oxide (SR series) batteries, used in precision instruments, yield valuable silver for reuse in electronics or jewelry. Zinc-air types power hearing aids and activate upon air exposure, while alkaline (LR series) resemble mini AA batteries in toys. Older models before 1996 might include mercury, now largely banned.
Environmental and safety concerns drive recycling efforts. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes rising button battery ingestions among children, causing thousands of emergency visits yearly; swallowed batteries can burn the esophagus in two hours. Lithium cells also spark fires in trash compactors when short-circuiting against metal.
Recycling options include jewelers for watch batteries, hearing aid providers for zinc-air types, and retailers like Best Buy or Staples via The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle). Household hazardous waste programs and mail-in kits from We Recycle or TerraCycle accept them. Safe practices involve taping terminals, storing in lidded containers away from children, and avoiding curbside bins.
Facilities sort batteries mechanically and manually, recovering silver from oxide types, lithium and manganese from coin cells, and zinc for galvanizing. If ingestion occurs, call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 immediately.
Extended Producer Responsibility laws in Vermont (since 2014), California (2022), Washington (2023), Illinois (2024), Colorado and Nebraska (2025), Connecticut (2025), and Minnesota cover button cells, with producer-funded systems rolling out from 2026 to 2029. The District of Columbia also participates.