Batteries contain metals, liquids, and other materials that are flammable, toxic, and hazardous to the environment if they are not handled and disposed of properly. These materials can include lead, zinc, nickel-cadmium, sulfuric acid, mercury, plastic, lithium, and more. By using a certified recycler like Modern Waste, you ensure that these dangerous substances do not contaminate local landfills or waterways. In California, batteries of every type, including ordinary alkaline cells, are regulated as universal waste and may not go in the trash, so battery disposal in Sacramento means recycling through an authorized handler.
Modern Waste provides all aspects of battery recycling with emphasis on compliance and logistics challenges. Services include, but are not limited to:
- Alkaline Batteries
- EV Batteries
- Lithium-Ion (L-ion) Batteries
- Lithium Primary Batteries
- Lead Acid Batteries
- Mixed Batteries
- Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) Batteries
- Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) Batteries
- Rechargeable Batteries
- Various Other Types of Batteries
- Battery Sorting
- Battery Insulating and Packaging
- Battery Containers for Storage and Transportation
- Compliance and Logistics Consulting
- Pick-up, Transportation, and Handling
- Proper Labeling and Signage
- UPS System Deinstallation and Recycling
- On-site EV Battery Safety-Tear-Down
Each type of battery has different processes for material recovery and recycling. For example, lithium-ion tool batteries may be handled differently than lithium-ion cell phone batteries, even though they share the same chemistry. Tool batteries are typically composed of a group of smaller cells that can be tested and reused if viable; the rest are processed for material recovery.
Whole Lead Acid Batteries are broken apart in a hammer mill. In a separation vat the lead and other heavy materials sink while the plastic floats, so each material can go to its own recycling stream:
- Plastic components are washed, dried, and converted into plastic pellets for reuse in battery cases.
- Lead parts are melted, purified, and poured into ingots for manufacturing new batteries.
- Battery Acid is either neutralized into clean water or converted into sodium sulfate for industrial use.
Because almost every part of a lead-acid battery goes back into a new one, it is close to a closed loop. Battery Council International's national recycling rate study found that U.S. recyclers recovered 97.7% of the lead from batteries that reached the end of their service life between 2020 and 2024.
Modern Waste makes it easy for you to access comprehensive and compliant battery recycling services that align with local, state, and federal regulations.
- We will provide the equipment you need
- We will train you on what you need to know
- We will come to you to pick up (or you can drop off)
- We will record what we receive from you in our database
- We will shred, wipe, recycle, or dispose of your waste
- We will provide certificates and reports as needed
Businesses, public agencies and institutions can schedule battery pickup from their site, on a recurring route or as a one-time collection, using the containers and labels we supply. Businesses can also deliver batteries to our Sacramento facility at 3921 Pell Circle; the business drop-off page lists current hours. We don't provide residential services. Households can recycle through our sister company, Secure Recycle, at the same address. Tape the terminals of lithium and 9-volt batteries, and keep damaged or swollen batteries apart from the rest.
Not every battery can be treated the same way. Two categories require extra care beyond standard sorting and packaging:
- EV Batteries – Damaged or swollen lithium-ion EV battery packs carry a real fire risk if mishandled. We perform on-site safety tear-downs so packs are inspected, stabilized, and separated into their component cells before transport, rather than shipped intact.
- UPS and Backup Power Batteries – Uninterruptible power supply units typically run on sealed lead-acid (VRLA) cells, though newer systems increasingly use lithium-ion. When we handle a data center or UPS decommissioning project, the batteries are pulled and processed through this same battery recycling stream rather than sent out with general e-waste.
Correct sorting starts with correct identification. Most batteries carry a chemistry code stamped or printed on the case — Li-ion, NiCd, NiMH, and similar abbreviations — and separating by that code before recycling matters because each chemistry is processed through a different recovery stream. Lead-acid batteries, for example, go through hammer-milling to separate plastic casing from lead and acid, while lithium-based batteries are handled through cell-level testing and material recovery instead. Mixing chemistries in a single container isn't just inefficient — for certain combinations it's a genuine safety hazard, which is why our intake process sorts by chemistry before anything is packaged for transport.
#Running a recurring battery program across one site or several? See our Battery Recycling Program for scheduled service options and a fast quote.
Battery recycling pickups run throughout California and parts of Nevada, including Sacramento, Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Clovis, Carmichael, Rocklin, Placerville, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Los Banos, Goleta, and Sparks, NV. See the full Service Areas list for coverage near you.
Reviews
A little bit off the beaten track in Natomas, but Modern Waste quickly and efficiently helped me recycle my broken Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries at a reasonable $/lb fee (Sac county e-waste will not accept these items). Ramiro and Vincent were very friendly and helpful.
Chris was awesome! He came in and picked up all of the e-waste we had ready for him. He was polite and professional throughout the entire process. He handled the equipment with care, including the site equipment that was already in place. I am very happy with his service and appreciate the great job he did.
Aaron and Vincent were awesome, excellent customer service!
Great guys, excellent customer service, highly recommend!
Polite, quick and easy.
Chris from modern waste was the most outstanding respectful person I ever met my life when he was done he offered to sweep the floors. He offered so much even though he was limited on time he went out of his way and he’s over beyond best guy I ever met thank you so much for your service services Dan ITG.
We have answers.
Battery recycling is the process of collecting, sorting, and processing spent batteries so their materials can be recovered or safely destroyed instead of ending up in a landfill or, worse, a dumpster fire. Modern Waste handles virtually every battery chemistry a business is likely to generate — alkaline, lithium-ion, lithium primary, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, EV batteries, and mixed loads where types haven't been separated. Because different chemistries react differently — lithium-ion cells, for instance, can short-circuit and ignite if damaged or improperly stored — proper battery recycling isn't just an environmental nicety, it's a genuine safety and hazardous-waste management practice. In California, most batteries fall under Universal Waste regulations, meaning they're legally required to be handled through a certified recycling stream rather than regular trash. For a business, that makes battery recycling less about being green and more about staying within the law while removing a real fire and liability risk from the premises.
Commercial and industrial battery recycling is built for organizations generating battery waste as part of normal operations, not for someone recycling a handful of household batteries. That includes warehouses running fleets of powered equipment, manufacturers using batteries in production or testing, IT departments retiring UPS units and laptop batteries, security companies swapping out backup power systems, and property or facilities managers accumulating batteries from building systems and tenant turnover. Businesses with EV fleets or charging infrastructure are an increasingly common client too, given how quickly EV battery volumes are growing. What all of these have in common is a recurring or bulk battery waste stream that needs a documented, compliant path out the door — not a one-off drop-off, but an ongoing relationship with a certified recycler.
Three problems tend to drive businesses toward a formal battery recycling program. Compliance risk is the most obvious: California classifies most batteries as Universal Waste, and improper disposal can trigger fines from state and local regulators. Fire hazard is the one businesses underestimate most — damaged or improperly stored lithium-ion batteries are a genuine ignition risk, and a storage closet full of loose batteries is a far bigger liability than most facilities managers realize. Environmental liability rounds out the list, since heavy metals and electrolytes in batteries can contaminate soil and groundwater if they end up in a standard landfill. A structured recycling program solves all three by providing labeled, safe storage containers, scheduled pickups before volumes build up to dangerous levels, and documented proof that materials were handled by a certified processor — proof that matters if a regulator or insurer ever asks.
Lithium and lead-acid batteries require different handling protocols, and treating them the same way is one of the more common — and riskiest — mistakes businesses make. Lithium-ion and lithium primary cells need to be kept separated and stored away from heat sources, since damaged cells can short and ignite. Lead-acid batteries, by contrast, pose more of a corrosive and heavy-metal risk and are typically handled under different downstream recovery processes. Modern Waste's battery recycling program is governed by the same certification framework that covers the rest of its operations.
| Certification | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001/14001/45001 | Responsible recycling standards, downstream material tracking |
| ISO 9001:2015 | Consistent, documented handling processes |
| ISO 14001:2015 | Environmental management and reduced impact |
| ISO 45001 | Safety protocols for staff handling hazardous materials |
On top of these certifications, battery handling at Modern Waste falls under direct oversight from California's Department of Toxic Substances Control and Cal OSHA — agencies specifically concerned with hazardous material storage and workplace safety. That combination of chemistry-specific handling and independently audited certification is what separates a compliant battery recycling program from simply putting old batteries in a box and hoping for the best.
Certification is only part of the picture — the other part is who's actually handling the batteries once they arrive. Modern Waste has operated in this industry since 1999, giving it more than two decades of hands-on experience with the full range of battery chemistries businesses generate. Battery handling is overseen by staff dedicated specifically to that area of the facility, working within the labeled, tamper-resistant container system used for collection. Experts from our company recommend that any business generating a mix of battery types keep them separated at the point of collection wherever possible, since pre-sorted loads move through processing faster and reduce handling risk. That operational experience, combined with the ISO certification stack, is what allows Modern Waste to accept genuinely mixed and high-volume battery loads that some smaller recyclers can't take on safely.
Battery recycling has a lower margin for error than most other waste streams, given the fire and hazardous-material risks involved. A few criteria are worth checking before choosing a partner.
| Criteria | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Certifications (ISO 9001/14001/45001) | Confirms audited, compliant handling |
| Chemistry coverage | Confirms the recycler can handle your specific mix of battery types |
| Container and pickup logistics | Labeled, safe storage reduces fire risk between pickups |
| Reporting transparency | Certificates of recycling protect you in a compliance review |
Modern Waste covers each of these: full certification, virtually every battery chemistry in commercial use, labeled containers provided as part of the service, and documented certificates issued after each pickup. Whichever recycler a business ultimately chooses, running through this checklist first is a reasonable way to separate a genuinely compliant partner from one that's cutting corners.
A few practical details make it easier to get an accurate quote and a smooth first pickup. Battery volume and the mix of chemistries involved — lithium-ion, lead-acid, alkaline, or a combination — affects both container needs and processing. Storage requirements matter too, particularly for lithium-based batteries, since improper storage between now and pickup day is where most fire risk actually occurs. Pickup frequency is worth thinking through as well: a business generating a steady stream of used batteries usually benefits more from a recurring scheduled route than repeated one-off requests. None of this needs to be precisely quantified before reaching out — a rough estimate of volume and battery types is generally enough to get the process started.
A complete battery recycling service covers more than just collection.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Labeled containers | Tamper-resistant bins provided for safe, compliant staging |
| Scheduled pickup | Route-based or on-demand collection |
| Sorting | Batteries separated by chemistry for correct downstream processing |
| Certificates | Documentation of recycling issued after each pickup |
This structure is designed to reduce risk at every stage — from the moment a battery is set aside in a labeled container, through transport, to final certified processing — while giving businesses the paperwork they need to demonstrate compliance.
Starting a battery recycling program begins with a simple service request describing roughly what types and volumes of batteries your business generates. From there, Modern Waste's team sets up an initial pickup and, if it makes sense for your volume, a recurring schedule going forward. Because service coverage extends statewide across California and into parts of Nevada, businesses with multiple locations can consolidate battery recycling under a single vendor rather than coordinating separately at each site. For a first-time pickup, having labeled containers already in place at your location speeds things up considerably, and Modern Waste can supply those as part of onboarding a new client.
Battery recycling follows the same structured process used across all of Modern Waste's services.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Equipment | Labeled, tamper-resistant containers provided for battery storage |
| 2. Training | Staff trained on sorting batteries by chemistry at the point of collection |
| 3. Pick-up | Scheduled route-based or on-demand collection |
| 4. Tracking | Loads logged with a ticket number in a secure database |
| 5. Process | Batteries sorted and routed to appropriate downstream recovery |
| 6. Reports | Certificates of recycling provided as needed |
Because different chemistries require different downstream handling, the sorting step is especially important for batteries — a mixed load that's properly separated moves through processing far more efficiently, and safely, than one that isn't.
Battery recycling is one of the areas where experience genuinely shows. Modern Waste has handled batteries as part of its recycling operations since 1999, giving the company a long track record with the fire, storage, and compliance risks specific to this waste stream. Statewide routes mean a Sacramento-based business — or one with locations spread across California and into Nevada — can rely on a single certified partner rather than juggling regional vendors. And because the same ISO certifications that govern e-waste handling also apply to batteries, businesses get one consistent standard of documentation across every material type they send out.
After a battery pickup, businesses receive a certificate of recycling documenting what was collected and confirming it was routed through certified downstream processing. This documentation matters for compliance reviews, insurance purposes, and internal environmental reporting, particularly for businesses that need to show regulators or auditors how hazardous materials were handled. For companies tracking environmental impact more broadly, this documentation can also feed into sustainability reporting, since it confirms materials were diverted from landfill disposal toward proper recovery.