The Redwood Battery Bin

Bins are conveniently located throughout Washoe County thanks to our partnership with the County, including four county-owned locations: South Valleys Library, Sierra Valley Library, the Reno Downtown Library, and the Washoe County Administration building on 9th Street. Collection bins are also in hardware stores and The Discovery Museum. The City of Fernley is also hosting a battery collection bin at their City Hall.

Northern Nevada

• Reno Downtown Library — 301 S. Center St, Reno

• Sierra Valley Library — 4001 S. Virginia St, Reno

• South Valleys Library — 15650A Wedge Pkwy, Reno

• Washoe County Administration — Bldg A lobby, 1001 E 9th St, Reno

• Fernley City Hall — 595 Silver Lace Blvd, Fernley

• Carter Bros Ace Hardware — 1215 S Virginia St, Reno

• Caughlin Ranch Ace Hardware — 4782 Caughlin Ranch Pkwy, Reno

• South Meadows Ace Hardware — 770 South Meadows Pkwy #111, Reno

• Outdoor Power — 4995 Longley Ln, Reno

• E-Bike Hub — 50 S Virginia St, Reno

• The Discovery Museum — 490 S Center St, Reno

San Francisco Bay Area

• Cole Hardware — all locations

• Sports Basement — all locations

How it works

Find a bin. Pick the closest location from the list above. Bins sit in public lobbies, libraries, and store aisles during normal open hours.

Drop it in. Place batteries in the chute without any additional sorting or packaging. If the battery is built into a small device, deposit the whole device.

We take it from there. The bin reports when it's full, a local crew collects it, and the material is sent to Redwood to recover the critical minerals inside.

Accepted items

Rechargeable household batteries and devices: batteries from cordless power tools and vacuums, cell phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds, and other small portable electronics containing lithium-ion batteries. Batteries can be placed in the bins without any additional sorting or packaging needed. If the battery is embedded in a small rechargeable device, the whole device can be deposited in the bin.

Before you drop off a device: Please wipe your device's data before depositing it. Items that present a health or safety hazard are not accepted.

Safety features

• Connected: Every bin has Wi-Fi connectivity, so it can be monitored remotely around the clock.

• Sensing: Heat and activity sensors watch conditions inside the bin.

• Fire suppression: A built-in fire suppression system safely contains household devices.

• Local service: When drums are full, a local company, HERO Environmental Services, is automatically dispatched to collect them.

About the program

The Nevada Tech Hub awarded funds to Redwood Materials to deploy patented, smart lithium-ion battery recycling receptacles across public buildings, libraries, and hardware stores in Nevada. Funding was provided for bin construction, program logistics, public marketing, and education to help Nevada fully close the loop on lithium battery materials.

Nevada is the site of lithium mining, battery manufacturing, and battery recycling; but to fully close the loop, consumers must responsibly recycle the batteries in their homes. Rechargeable batteries and devices cannot be placed in solid waste trash cans nor curbside recycling bins; they must be dropped off where they can be safely handled and sent to a battery recycler who specializes in the recovery of the minerals found within those battery chemistries, like Redwood Materials.

Program goal: Recover critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper for the domestic circular economy while reducing fire hazards due to improper disposal of materials.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I throw batteries in the trash or recycling?

Rechargeable batteries and devices cannot be placed in solid waste trash cans nor curbside recycling bins. They need to be dropped off where they can be safely handled and sent to a battery recycler who specializes in recovering the minerals inside them. Improper disposal is a fire hazard.

Do I need to tape or bag my batteries?

No. Batteries can be placed in the bins without any additional sorting or packaging. That preparation is only needed if you're shipping batteries to us directly.

Can I drop off the whole device, or just the battery?

If the battery is embedded in a small rechargeable device — like earbuds, a phone, or a tablet — deposit the whole device. There's no need to take it apart.

Is my personal data safe?

Always wipe your device before dropping it off. Once received, any remaining personal information is permanently destroyed as part of the recycling process. Neither Redwood nor the host location is responsible for personal data left on a device at drop-off.

Does Redwood pay for batteries dropped in a bin?

No. Consumer drop-off is a free recycling service, not a buyback program.