Battery recycling

Give your batteries a better ending — now at your local library

Heading to the library? Take your used household batteries with you and give them a better ending.

Tauranga City Council has introduced free battery drop-off points at three local libraries, making it easier than ever to recycle batteries responsibly. It’s a simple action that helps protect our environment and keeps valuable materials out of landfill.

You can now safely dispose of household batteries for free at the following locations:

• Pāpāmoa Library
• Greerton Library
• Mount Maunganui Library

Tauranga City Council has partnered with Phoenix Recycling Group to safely recycle batteries and keep them out of our kerbside bins and landfill.

What sort of batteries you can drop off

We’re accepting a wide range of household batteries under 5kg at our library drop off points.

Batteries accepted:

• AA, AAA, and button cell batteries
• C, D, 6V, 9V
• Rechargeable batteries
• Batteries from vapes, hearing aids, and toys
• Power tool batteries
• Power banks
• Lead alarm batteries

Batteries not accepted:

• Damaged or swollen batteries (please take straight to Te Maunga Transfer Station)
• Car or automative batteries
• Forklift batteries
• Industrial batteries
• Batteries over 5kg

All battery types are accepted free of charge at Te Maunga Transfer Station.

Why it matters:

Batteries should never go in your recycling or rubbish bins because they can be dangerous. When batteries are crushed or processed, they can catch fire or even explode—especially lithium batteries. All types of batteries can also release harmful chemicals when compressed, which can damage the environment. By properly disposing of your batteries, you help keep recycling workers and drivers safe and reduce harmful effects on the environment, making sure fewer harmful chemicals end up going to landfill.

Tips for handling batteries before dropping off:

1. Tape the terminals: If you're storing and disposing of batteries, it's a good idea to tape the terminals (the positive and negative ends) for safety – household cellotape is fine.
2. Store in a safe place: Keep used batteries in a safe, dry place away from heat sources until you can drop them off. Avoid leaving them near flammable materials.
3. Avoid crushing or damaging: Never crush or puncture batteries. Damaged batteries are more likely to leak harmful chemicals or catch fire.
4. Use a clear snap-lock bag: Place up to 10 batteries in a plastic bag for added safety while transporting them to the drop-off points. You can drop the bag with batteries into the bins.

* Operational costs for Tauranga City Council’s battery recycling service are covered by the Waste Levy, provided to councils by the Ministry for the Environment for waste minimisation education and initiatives, and does not impose additional costs on general rates.

FAQs