Give Us A Call

Hassett Hardware
Is Curbside Battery Recycling Still Allowed in Palo Alto? What You Need to Know
Our Locations
If you live in Palo Alto, you might have noticed some recent changes to your weekly trash collection rules.
 
Palo Alto no longer allows batteries in weekly curbside recycling. Because California state law classifies all batteries as hazardous waste, tossing them in your blue recycling cart, or leaving them bagged on top, poses a severe fire risk for local sanitation workers and is no longer legal.
⚠️ Important Notice for Our Customers: Due to these strict California hazardous waste regulations, none of our Hassett Hardware locations, including the store in Palo Alto, can accept battery drop-offs or handle battery recycling for the public. 

However, you can still recycle your batteries safely and legally through official Palo Alto city programs. As your local neighborhood hardware experts, we have broken down exactly where you need to take them in Palo Alto to avoid a fine.

 

Two Ways to Recycle Batteries in Palo Alto

While retail stores and regular weekly trash collection won’t take them, you have two free options to safely dispose of old batteries.

Option 1: Drop off at the Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste Station

The most reliable method is to bring your batteries directly to the City of Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station.
 
  • 📍 Location: 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303
  • 📅 Operating Days: Open on Saturdays and the first Friday of each month.
  • 📋 Requirements & Hours: Free for Palo Alto residents only (proof of residency required).Because hours can vary seasonally, we highly recommend checking the official City of Palo Alto HHW website before you load up your car.

Option 2: Use your annual curbside clean up days

Palo Alto residents get two scheduled “Clean Up Days” per year through GreenWaste. You can recycle household batteries at the curb only during these specific events.
 
  • How to pack them: Place batteries inside a clear, sealed, heavy-duty zip-top bag.
  • Where to place them: Set the sealed bag directly on top of your blue recycling cart on your designated cleanup day.

 

Battery Disposal Quick Guide: HHW vs. Curbside

Not all batteries are treated equally. Before you pack them up, use this quick cheat sheet to see where your batteries need to go:

Battery Type Examples Drop Off at HHW Station? Use Curbside Clean Up Day? Bring to Our Store?
Standard Alkaline AA, AAA, C, D, 9V YES YES NO
Rechargeable (Small) Ni-Cd, Ni-MH YES YES NO
Button Cells Watch & hearing aid batteries YES NO NO
Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes YES NO (Severe fire hazard) NO
Automotive Car and motorcycle batteries YES NO NO

 

Essential safety rule: tape the terminals!

Before recycling any battery, you must tape the positive (+) terminals with clear packing tape or electrical tape.

When loose batteries rub together in a bag or bin, their terminals can touch, spark, and ignite a fire. Taping the ends blocks the electrical current and keeps your home—and our local waste workers—safe.

Looking for Safety Gear or Long-Lasting Upgrades?

While we can’t take your old batteries off your hands, we can help you get organized and upgraded. Stop by today to stock up on electrical tape, heavy-duty storage bags for your cleanup days and high-efficiency rechargeable batteries to cut down on your waste.

Drop by and talk to our team for all your electrical and safety needs!

Back To Blog Home

Search By Categories

Search By Date