FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Need to know more about battery safety? Explore these frequently asked questions for more information and tips to keep your family safe!
SAFE BATTERY DISPOSAL
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Never throw your batteries in the trashcan or household recycling bin.
Woodsy Owl says, “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!” When it’s time to dispose of your batteries, tape the battery ends, find a drop-off location or order a return box, and turn them in.
Click here to learn about safe battery disposal in three easy steps.
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There are hundreds of safe battery dropoff sites across the United States, including at stores like Home Depot and Staples. To find the safe disposal site that’s closest to you, use a site locator like this one!
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Use our site locator to find the safe drop-off facility that’s closest to you.
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If there isn’t a drop-off facility nearby, you can easily turn your batteries in through the mail. However, it's important that you use the proper packaging, so be sure to order and use a safe return box. That's the only way to safely turn your batteries in via the mail.
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Sending your batteries to a safe return site through the mail is a convenient and easy way to dispose of your batteries safely. Click here to order a safe return box.
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Visit the Consumer Technology Association’s electronics recycling finder to enter your zip code and find out where to return your electronics with imbedded batteries.
BATTERIES IN YOUR HOME
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Today, more household gadgets than ever run on batteries. That includes traditional batteries like AA and AAA that you’ll find in a TV remote or flashlight, as well as the rechargeable batteries that power our smartphones, laptop, and more.
For a list of everyday household items that run on rechargeable batteries, click here.
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Safe charging is very important to prevent battery fires—and to keep your item’s battery in good health! To safely charge items that run on rechargeable batteries, follow these three easy-to-remember tips:
Always charge your item using the charger that came with it.
Never charge your item in direct sunlight or any other place where it might heat up.
Once the battery is charged, unplug your item from the charger.
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It’s easy to make sure that you’re storing your batteries as safely as possible. And it’s an important step to help prevent battery fires in your home and community!
Here are three easy steps to safely storing your batteries.
Disconnect rechargeable batteries. Some household items, like powertools, are powered by disconnectable rechargeable batteries. When you’re finished using these items, disconnect the rechargeable battery.
Keep your batteries in a cool, dry place. Store your batteries in someone cool and dry. This helps keep their temperature down, decreasing the risk that they’ll heat up and ignite.
Don’t put any pressure on your batteries. Batteries under too much pressure can ignite and cause deadly fires. Be careful not to stack anything on top of your batteries.
BATTERY FIRES
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When a battery gets too hot or comes under too much pressure, it can trigger a scientific process called “thermal runaway.” Thermal runaway is a self-sustaining chain reaction where a little bit of pressure or heat starts producing even more heat, leading to a rapid rise in temperature that can trigger deadly fires or explosions.
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Battery fires burn hotter and longer than other fires, and take significantly more water to extinguish. They can start in the blink of an eye—when a battery overheats, it can go from 212°F to 1,800°F in an instant, with flames as hot as 2,000°F! (Sources: Clemson University; National Institute of Standards and Technology.) They can also release toxic gasses like hydrogen fluoride and carbon monoxide. If inhaled, these fumes can lead to trouble breathing, eye and skin irritation, and in some cases, even death.
Battery fires don’t just burn hotter—they burn longer, too. These fires are nearly impossible for firefighters to put out, and they can quickly reignite without a moment’s notice.
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Yes! More and more of our everyday gadgets are run on batteries, and battery fires are becoming more common as a result.
Since 2020, there have been at least 89 deaths directly related to lithium-ion battery incidents in the United States. (Source: UL Solutions.) And in 2025, there were 448 reported fire incidents at waste and recycling facilities across the U.S. and Canada—nearly 25% above the annual average. (Source: Resource Recycling, Inc.)
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It’s important that everyone does their part to help prevent these dangerous fires from happening!
The best way to help stop battery fires before they start is to practice safe battery charging, safe battery storage, and safe battery disposal. And above all, remember: never throw your batteries in the trash or recycle bin. Always safely turn them in at a safe drop-off site or with a safe return box. -
Battery fires can start in the blink of an eye. They are extremely dangerous, and burn longer, hotter, and faster than gasoline or wood fires.
If a battery fire breaks out in your home, workplace, or anywhere else, it is essential that you evacuate immediately, call 911, and warn others who may be in danger.
Do not attempt to put the fire out on your own. Battery fires spread quickly, and require significantly more water to be extinguished than woodburning fires. If a battery fire breaks out, the best thing to do is get yourself and your loved ones to safety as quickly as possible, call 911, and alert others.
WOODSY OWL
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Yes! Woodsy Owl will be appearing at a number of in-person events (or, in his case, in-owl events) to promote battery safety and help keep our families and communities safe.
Click here to get in touch and learn more about Woodsy Owl's upcoming appearances!