Battery Recycling · Denver, CO
Household Battery Recycling in Denver
Before you go
A drawer of mixed batteries is four different streams. Sorting them at home takes a few minutes and is the difference between accepted and refused.
Sort by chemistry
Single-use alkaline, rechargeable NiMH and lithium-ion, button cells, and lithium primaries all go to different processors. The chemistry is printed on the battery.
Tape the terminals on 9V, button, and lithium cells
These are the ones that short easily against each other. Clear tape over the contacts is enough.
Pull the button cells out separately
They're small enough to disappear into a bag, and they contain silver oxide or lithium worth recovering. They're also the ones a small child is most likely to swallow, so don't leave them loose.
Don't tape anything that's leaking
Sealing a corroded cell traps the electrolyte against the contacts. Bag it loose instead and tell the counter it's leaking.
Compare options
Household Battery Recycling in Denver
1 free · 3 fee-based
| Facility | Cost | Open now | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Depot (Call2Recycle) | Free | ||
| Paid or fee-based options | |||
| Best Buy | Free for most |
||
| Rooney Road Recycling Center(303) 269-9448 | Depends on the item |
||
| Batteries + Bulbs(303) 282-3913 | Depends on the item |
||
How it works in Denver
Local rules
- Colorado SB25-163 Battery Stewardship Act (signed June 4, 2025): producers must join a battery stewardship organization beginning Aug 1, 2027; landfill disposal of covered batteries prohibited starting Jan 1, 2030.
- Colorado SB26-003 (2026 session): creates the first state-level EV propulsion-battery stewardship framework in the US — CDPHE will certify qualified recyclers by July 2027, with mandatory producer-funded collection starting Aug 1, 2028.
Denver County (HHW via Jefferson County / Rooney Road) household hazardous waste
Rooney Road Recycling Center (Jefferson County)
Jefferson County residents. Wed & Sat by appointment. Paint and motor oil free; per-item HHW fee.
13 more Denver rules, not specific to this item
- Colorado Electronic Recycling Jobs Act (SB12-133), effective July 1, 2013: landfill ban on TVs, computers, monitors, printers, copiers, fax machines, laptops, tablets, DVD players, VCRs, radios, and video game consoles. Landfills, transfer stations and haulers must post conspicuous notice.
- Colorado Architectural Paint Stewardship Act: PaintCare program operational in Colorado since July 2015. Fee added to new paint at retail funds free statewide collection of latex, oil-based, stains, varnish.
- Colorado HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling (signed June 3, 2022): EPR for packaging and paper. Circular Action Alliance is the PRO; producers had to register by Oct 1, 2024. Free residential packaging recycling rolling out statewide by mid-2026.
- Denver Pay-As-You-Throw ordinance (in effect since Jan 2023): volume-based trash pricing ($9.75/35-gal, $13.75/65-gal, $21.75/95-gal monthly), with weekly recycling and weekly compost included at no extra charge.
- Denver 'Waste No More' ordinance (Initiated Ordinance 306, voter-approved 2022; enforcement begins September 2026): requires multifamily buildings (8+ units), non-residential buildings, food businesses, and events to provide recycling and composting alongside trash.
- Denver County has no large permanent HHW facility of its own; the City refers most heavy HHW to Rooney Road Recycling Center in Jefferson County (151 South Rooney Road, Golden) or to Veolia in Henderson (Adams County). Eligibility and fees depend on whether your jurisdiction is a paying participant.
- Rooney Road runs Wed and Sat by appointment only (303-316-6262). Latex/oil paint and used motor oil are free drop-offs. Curbside pickup is available for residents physically unable to drive ($40 co-pay).
- Denver Recycles weekly compost cart service is bundled into the PAYT fee citywide as of 2023 — one of the few US cities to make residential composting universal at no extra charge.
- Denver Treecycle: free Christmas tree drop-off in early January; trees are mulched and the mulch is given back to residents free at the May Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale. Trees left for regular trash pickup are NOT composted.
- Best Buy in metro Denver still charges $29.99 to recycle CRT TVs/monitors (flat-panels free), reflecting the high handling cost of leaded glass after the e-waste ban.
- Free statewide packaging recycling under HB22-1355 is being phased in — residents in covered jurisdictions get curbside recycling at no charge starting in mid-2026.
- Colorado is one of only a few states with a PaintCare program that offers free household door-to-door pickup for 10+ gallons, not just drop-off sites.
- Denver's 'Waste No More' ordinance (voter-approved 2022) enforcement was delayed to September 2026, giving multifamily and commercial buildings extra time to comply with mandatory recycling and composting requirements.
Other Denver programs
- Denver Recycles Household Hazardous Waste ProgramCity-run HHW program for Denver residents only. Offers free paint drop-off (via PaintCare partnership) and at-your-door HHW collection by appointment; battery disposal guidance. Call 3-1-1 for current scheduling/cost details.311 (or 720-913-1311)
- PaintCare ColoradoFree year-round drop-off of latex/oil-based paint, primers, stains, sealers, shellac, and varnish at 220+ Colorado sites (60+ in metro Denver). 5 gallons per visit at most sites. Door-to-door household pickup for 10+ gallons in the Denver metro; free large-volume pickup for contractors with 100+ gallons. Funded by per-can fee added at retail.1-855-724-6809 (locator); 720-854-8722 (household pickup)
- Veolia Colorado HHW Recycling Center (Henderson)Regional HHW center at 9131 E. 96th Ave, Henderson. Serves Adams and neighboring county residents by appointment. Architectural paint accepted free (PaintCare); other chemicals/electronics $30 facility fee + $1.66/lb. Accepts antifreeze, motor oil, batteries, propane, fire extinguishers, computers, monitors, TVs, printers.303-526-8155
- Blue Star Recyclers (Denver)Nonprofit, e-Stewards and NAID AAA certified electronics recycler. Accepts TVs, CRTs, computers, printers, batteries, bulbs. Provides on-site/off-site hard-drive data destruction. Employs workers with autism and other disabilities.303-534-1667
- PCs for People Colorado501(c)(3) with NAID AAA + R2 certifications. Free white-glove pickup for businesses with 15+ usable computers; drop-off for households. Refurbishes devices for low-income families; zero-landfill for non-refurb.
- Call2Recycle (The Battery Network)National rechargeable-battery and cell-phone drop-off network. Free at Home Depot, Lowe's, Batteries Plus, Staples, and many municipal sites across metro Denver. Accepts Li-ion, NiCd, NiMH, lead acid (small sealed). Lithium terminals must be taped before drop-off.1-877-723-1297
- GreenSheen Paint (Denver)Local PaintCare-affiliated paint recycler offering free residential paint pickup in Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Douglas, El Paso, Teller, and Jefferson counties. Hosts periodic free paint-recycling events.720-854-8722
- Eco-Cycle (Boulder/Longmont area, serving Denver metro)Nonprofit recycler operating CHaRM facilities and offering zero-waste resources, education, and hard-to-recycle collection events. Provides residential and commercial recycling services in the broader Denver metro area.303-444-6634
- Denver Compost Collection ProgramWeekly curbside compost pick-up included with Pay-As-You-Throw trash service at no extra charge. Accepts food scraps, yard waste, compostable paper products. One of few US cities to make residential composting universal at no additional fee.
Where this came from: 13 sources
- www.paintcare.org/states/colorado (opens in a new tab)
- www.rooneyroadrecycling.org (opens in a new tab)
- hhwdisposal.com/colorado (opens in a new tab)
- www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Recycle-Compost-Trash/Recycle/Household-Hazardous-Waste (opens in a new tab)
- cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/info-landfill-operators-waste-haulers-electronic-waste (opens in a new tab)
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-163 (opens in a new tab)
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-003 (opens in a new tab)
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1355 (opens in a new tab)
- bluestarrecyclers.org (opens in a new tab)
- www.pcsforpeople.org/locations/colorado (opens in a new tab)
- locations.call2recycle.org/co/denver (opens in a new tab)
- greensheenpaint.com/paint-pickup (opens in a new tab)
- ecocycle.org (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
About Household Battery Recycling here
How much does Household Battery recycling cost in this area?
1 of 4 facilities (25%) offer free recycling for Household Battery. Facilities that may charge: Best Buy, Rooney Road Recycling Center, Batteries + Bulbs. Best Buy: Free (most items); TVs under 50" $30. Rooney Road Recycling Center: Paint and motor oil: free. Electronics: per-item fee. HHW: $0-$3 per item..
Do I need an appointment for Household Battery drop-off?
1 facility requires an appointment: Rooney Road Recycling Center. Best Buy, Home Depot (Call2Recycle), Batteries + Bulbs accept walk-ins.
Is pickup available for Household Battery?
Most facilities require you to drop off Household Battery. Check individual listings for special arrangements.
Are there quantity limits for Household Battery drop-off?
Some facilities have limits: Best Buy: 3 items per day; Home Depot (Call2Recycle): Residential quantities.