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Commercial Battery Collection & Disposal

Commercial Battery Recycling Services

Businesses should keep used batteries out of general waste and standard recycling. Different battery types need suitable storage and collection routes because they can present fire, leakage and chemical risks.

Business Waste provides commercial battery recycling across the UK. We can dispose of portable batteries, industrial batteries, lead-acid batteries, vehicle batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. We’ll supply free battery collection containers, and Duty of Care documentation is provided for every collection.

16,835
BATTERIES Bins collected in the last 7 days
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Get a fast FREE quote for battery waste collection

  • Free quote within 1 hour
  • Commercial battery waste
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK
Free battery bins
Battery compliance support
Nationwide UK coverage
Free Duty of Care
Free quote in 1 hour

Our battery recycling process

  1. Get your free quote

    Tell us what batteries your business needs to get rid of, how many you have, and whether they are portable, lithium-ion, industrial, automotive, damaged, or leaking.

  2. Receive suitable battery containers

    We arrange battery boxes, drums, or specialist containers based on the battery type, condition, and volume. Standard battery containers have no rental or delivery fees where available.

  3. Store batteries safely

    Keep batteries dry, secure, and away from general waste. Protect exposed terminals where advised for that battery type, particularly where there is a risk of batteries touching and short-circuiting.

  4. Your batteries are collected

    Collections are arranged through registered waste carriers and sent to authorised battery treatment or recycling facilities. The treatment route depends on the battery type, chemistry and condition.

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Safer battery storage before collection

Used batteries should not be left loose in drawers, cupboards, general waste bins, or mixed recycling. They need the right container, clear storage rules, and a collection route that suits the battery type.

Business Waste Ltd helps you set up battery recycling for offices, retailers, warehouses, farms, garages, factories, schools, and multi-site businesses.

What our battery recycling service includes:

  • Free battery containers – Including UN-approved containers where required.
  • Support for retailers and distributors with takeback duties.
  • One point of contact – Our dedicated team manages every part of your battery recycling service alongside any other waste needs.

Battery Waste recycling routes:

  • Licensed carriers and compliant transport – Collections are arranged through registered waste carriers using the storage and transport requirements appropriate to the battery type.
  • Recycling routes tailored to battery type – We sort and direct your batteries to approved treatment facilities that recover a variety of batteries.
  • Guidance for safe storage and segregation – Clear advice on site setup, safe containment, and correct separation.
  • Legal documentation – Every collection includes a Duty-of-Care certificate, hazardous waste consignment notes and waste transfer records where required.

Read Our Customer Reviews

Business Waste Ltd

4.6 Star Rated (218 Google reviews)

5 Star Rating

Efficient communication

We have worked alongside Business Waste for quite a few months now, and their efficiency with communication and resolving queries is great. Allie especially is a pleasure to liaise with. Great company from a B2B perspective

Flo Bolton-Smith

5 Star Rating

The real definition of service

The service received was simply outstanding. Business Waste gave good advice and a demonstration of a willingness to help and get me a solution.

Gregory Harrand

5 Star Rating

Great company

Great company to deal with, special thanks to Danielle who is always on the ball and sort any issues out instantly with proactive involvement with follow up phone calls and emails. I would recommend her to be the next PM to get things done, oh and as a company to deal with all the waste needs for your business.

Top Deals Online

5 Star Rating

Excellent service set up process

I was impressed by the speed of setting up the service. I made a single phone call to Business Waste and all the necessary paperwork was done efficiently.

Yahya Saeed

Trusted by 30,000+ UK Businesses

Battery recycling by business type

Battery waste varies by site. An office may only need a small portable battery box. A garage, farm, warehouse, or retailer may need separate containers and more regular collections.

We can set up battery collections for:

  • Offices and schools: Portable AA, AAA, laptop, phone, calculator, and small equipment batteries
  • Retailers and distributors: customer takeback batteries and store collection points
  • Warehouses and logistics sites: NiMH, NiCd, forklift batteries, scanner batteries, handheld device batteries, and rechargeable packs
  • Garages and automotive sites: lead-acid car, van, motorcycle, and vehicle batteries
  • Farms and industrial sites: machinery batteries, large rechargeable units, and equipment batteries
  • Hospitality and leisure venues: batteries from tills, card machines, radios, lighting, and maintenance equipment

Whether you have a small box of used batteries or larger industrial units, we’ll recommend the container, collection frequency and paperwork based on the battery waste your site produces.

Lithium battery recycling
AA batteries.

What types of batteries can businesses recycle?

Different batteries need different storage and recycling routes. Mixing battery types can increase fire, leakage, and handling risks.

Common battery types include:

Portable batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, button cells, and small rechargeable batteries
Lithium-ion batteries: laptop, phone, tablet, vape, e-bike, scooter, power tool, and device batteries
Lead-acid batteries: car, van, motorcycle, forklift, and backup power batteries
Nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries: older rechargeable tools, emergency lighting, and equipment batteries
Industrial batteries: batteries from machinery, forklifts, UPS systems, and large equipment
Damaged or leaking batteries: batteries that are swollen, hot, punctured, corroded, or leaking may need separate handling

Which battery recycling bin does my business need?

There is no single battery recycling bin for every waste battery. The right container depends on the battery chemistry, size, condition and volume your business produces. It helps reduce the risk of fire, leakage, and short circuits before collection.

Portable Battery Bins

For AA, AAA, button cells, laptop batteries, phone batteries, toys, watches, and small rechargeable batteries. These are available in 10L, 60L and 120L sizes.

Lithium Battery Bins

For lithium-ion batteries from phones, laptops, vapes, e-bikes, tools, and other rechargeable equipment that require separate storage. We can provide small tubes perfect for offices and retailers if you run a take-back scheme.

Industrial and Automotive Battery Containers

For forklift, machinery, UPS, and larger rechargeable batteries.

Damaged Battery Containers

For swollen, leaking, punctured, hot, or fire-damaged batteries that need specialist handling. Do not place a damaged, swollen, leaking or unusually hot battery into a standard battery recycling bin.

Specialist battery containers can be UN-approved where hazardous material rules require it. Do not place loose batteries in general waste, DMR, cardboard, plastic recycling, or WEEE containers unless the collection route has been agreed.

Contact us today for a fast and free battery waste disposal quote

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Battery recycling rules businesses should know

Waste batteries are controlled under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, Duty of Care rules, and hazardous waste requirements, where relevant. Businesses must store batteries safely, use suitable collection routes, and keep the right paperwork.

Retailers and distributors that sell or supply 32kg or more of portable batteries each year must provide free takeback for used portable batteries. This applies to sealed portable batteries that an average person can carry, including AA, AAA, 9V and rechargeable batteries (gov.uk).

Business Waste can support battery waste requirements, such as:

  • Correct segregation and storage
  • Separate storage for lithium, lead-acid, industrial and damaged batteries
  • Battery takeback support for retailers and distributors
  • Full Duty of Care paperwork
  • Waste transfer records, where required
  • Hazardous waste consignment notes, where required
  • Advice on container size and collection frequency

Good battery storage reduces fire risk, keeps batteries out of general waste, and helps your business keep the right records.

Lithium battery recycling
rechargeable electric scooter battery.

Can businesses recycle AA batteries for cash?

Standard portable AA battery recycling is usually arranged as a collection or takeback service rather than a cash payment. Retailers that sell 32kg or more of portable batteries each year must offer free customer takeback, and battery compliance schemes can collect qualifying takeback batteries free of charge.

Other battery streams may have different commercial arrangements depending on their chemistry, volume and recycling route, so ask us about the batteries your business produces.

My first time using business waste and everyone was very helpful and communicative. We used them for battery removal from site. Mark Hudson was particularly helpful. One small issue, but that was rectified by them. No real complaints, will definitely use again.
Janice
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Get a fast battery disposal quote

Get a fast FREE quote for your battery waste removal

  • Free quote within 1 hour
  • Commercial battery waste
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK

Commercial battery recycling FAQs

  • bin shapes icon How are batteries recycled?

    Batteries are sorted by type and chemistry before treatment. Depending on the battery, materials such as lead, steel, zinc, nickel, cobalt, lithium, copper, and plastics may be recovered

  • bin shapes icon What regulations apply to battery disposal?

    Businesses must follow the Hazardous Waste Regulations, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. Retailers and distributors selling or supplying 32kg or more of portable batteries each year must provide free takeback.

  • bin shapes icon Are batteries hazardous waste?

    Many waste batteries are treated as hazardous because they can contain metals, corrosive chemicals, flammable materials, or reactive components. They should not be placed in general waste or mixed recycling.

  • bin shapes icon Are businesses legally required to recycle batteries?

    Yes. Businesses must keep batteries separate from general waste and arrange suitable collection or recycling. Portable batteries, industrial batteries, automotive batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and damaged batteries may all need different handling.

  • bin shapes icon Are lead-acid car batteries hazardous waste?

    Lead-acid batteries are hazardous waste, with EWC code 16 06 01. They must be collected by a registered waste carrier and handled through the correct hazardous waste route.

    Business Waste arranges hazardous lead-acid battery collections with full Duty of Care documentation.

  • bin shapes icon How do I dispose of lithium batteries safely?

    Lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries can catch fire if damaged, punctured, or short-circuited. They should not go in general waste or standard recycling bins.

    For business quantities, Business Waste Ltd can provide suitable storage containers and licensed collection.

Commercial battery recycling in the UK

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Published 30th March 2022 by JackBrayshaw. Last modified 25th August 2026