Battery Recycling in Glasgow
Regular or one-off battery recycling collections for Glasgow workplaces, retailers and fleets, covering portable, lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries.
Batteries turn up everywhere in a working building: AA and AAA cells from remotes and clickers, rechargeable packs from cordless tools, lithium-ion batteries from handheld scanners, and heavy lead-acid units from UPS systems, forklifts and vehicles. Skips Glasgow arranges battery recycling collections for businesses and organisations across Glasgow, carried out by licensed local partners who send them for proper recovery.
The service is primarily for commercial quantities – a workplace collection point that fills up over a few months, a retailer’s customer take-back box, a fleet depot’s spent vehicle batteries or a facilities team clearing out a plant room. Single household batteries are better taken to a shop or council collection point.
Batteries and battery-containing equipment must be declared when requesting a quote, with the types, rough quantities or weights and any damage. Use the quote form on this page or contact us.
Batteries we commonly collect
Different chemistries are handled differently, so it helps to know what you have. Typical business collections include:
- Portable batteries – AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and button cells
- Lithium-ion packs from laptops, phones, scanners and cordless tools
- Nickel-metal hydride and nickel-cadmium rechargeables
- Sealed lead-acid batteries from UPS systems and alarm panels
- Vehicle, forklift and other industrial lead-acid batteries
Lead-acid batteries, and some other types, are special waste in Scotland and move with a consignment note provided by the licensed partner.
Setting up a workplace or retail collection point
Many Glasgow businesses keep a small collection box in a staff area or behind the counter and book a collection once it’s full. Retailers that sell portable batteries may also have take-back obligations, so a customer drop-off point can do double duty.
Place the container somewhere dry, away from heat and out of direct sunlight. Tape the terminals of lithium batteries and 9V cells, or bag them individually, to reduce the chance of a short circuit. Keep damaged, swollen or leaking batteries apart and tell us about them. Used vapes are best kept separately – see vape recycling.
Recycling versus hazardous disposal
This page covers routine recycling collections – the steady flow of batteries most organisations produce. If you have a one-off quantity of damaged lithium cells, a large bank of industrial batteries or batteries mixed with other hazardous materials, our battery disposal service, part of our wider hazardous waste disposal offering, may be the better fit.
Either way, batteries should never go in a skip or general waste bin. Damaged batteries in bins and skips are a recognised fire risk for collection vehicles and waste sites across Scotland.
Batteries we can collect
- AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries
- Button and coin cells
- Lithium-ion packs and power-tool batteries
- NiMH and NiCd rechargeables
- UPS and alarm-panel lead-acid batteries
- Vehicle and forklift batteries
Please don’t include
- Undeclared damaged, swollen or leaking batteries
- Battery acid or electrolyte in loose containers
- General waste or packaging
- Gas bottles or aerosols
Not sure? See what can go in a skip or ask us when you book.
Ideal for
- Offices and workplaces
- Retailers
- Fleet depots
- Garages
- Schools and colleges
- Facilities teams
Battery Recycling – your questions answered
Can’t see your question? Call 0333 121 1056 or send us a message.
What information do you need about our batteries?
Tell us the main types – portable, lithium-ion, lead-acid or a mix – plus an approximate number or weight, how they’re stored, and whether any are damaged, swollen or leaking. This lets the partner bring the right containers and paperwork.
Are lead-acid batteries special waste?
Yes. Lead-acid batteries, such as those from vehicles, forklifts and UPS systems, are special waste in Scotland. They must be collected separately and travel with a consignment note, which the licensed partner provides.
Do I need to tape battery terminals?
For lithium batteries and 9V cells, taping the terminals or bagging each battery individually is good practice. It reduces the risk of short circuits if batteries touch each other or metal objects while stored or in transit.
Can you set up regular battery collections?
Yes. Businesses with a steady flow of batteries, such as retailers with take-back boxes or depots replacing vehicle batteries, can usually arrange scheduled collections, subject to partner availability. Contact us with your typical volumes.
Can batteries go in a skip if they’re flat?
No. Even flat batteries can hold residual charge and contain materials that need specialist treatment. Batteries are commonly prohibited in skips – see what can go in a skip – and should always be collected separately.
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Tell us what you need, where and when. Photos, data sheets or site plans help us price accurately – our licensed local partners do the rest.
Skips Glasgow provides skip hire, waste collection, recycling and construction support across Glasgow through Waste Cloud’s network of licensed local partners.