How to Dispose of a Car Battery (and Where to Take It in Columbus)
Published Oct 23, 2026 · 6 min read · By Hassan, Owner of Roadmate Services
Every garage has that one corner where an old car battery quietly waits for a plan. To dispose of a car battery, never put it in the trash. In Ohio, take it to a store that sells batteries, a repair shop, a scrap or battery recycler, or a household hazardous waste drop-off. Or have the technician who replaces it take the old one away.
If you buy a new battery, Ohio law says the store must take the old one back. Bring it with you and you also get the core charge refunded.
Quick answer: what to do with an old car battery
| Where it goes | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| The store where you buy the new battery | Core charge refund; Ohio requires the take-back | Bring the old battery or the receipt |
| Parts store or repair shop, no purchase | Many accept old batteries | Call first |
| Scrap or metal recycler | Some pay for the lead | Daytime hours; ID may be needed |
| SWACO household hazardous waste drop-off | Franklin County residents; damaged batteries | Check opening hours first |
| The technician who replaces it | No lifting, no driving it anywhere | Ask before the job |
| Never: the trash or the curbside recycling bin | Lead, acid and fire risk | Banned from Ohio landfills |
Why you cannot throw a car battery in the trash
A car battery is lead plates sitting in sulfuric acid. In a landfill, both can leak into soil and water. In a garbage truck or a recycling plant, a crushed battery can spark a fire.
Ohio law (ORC 3734.91 to 3734.915) bans used lead-acid batteries from solid and hazardous waste landfills and from being mixed with household trash, according to Ohio EPA lead-acid battery guidance. The Ohio EPA battery fact sheet adds that no battery of any kind belongs in a curbside recycling bin.
The good news: returned batteries rarely go to waste. The Battery Council International puts the US recycling rate for lead batteries at 99% (data through 2018). Your old battery is not trash; it is a new battery that has not been told yet.
Where to take old car batteries in Columbus
- Battery retailers and parts stores. Any store that sells lead-acid car batteries must take back at least one old battery for each one it sells you, and must post a sign saying so. Many also take old batteries without a purchase.
- Repair shops. Auto repair businesses are on Ohio EPA’s list of approved places to deliver a used battery. Call first.
- Scrap and metal recyclers. Some pay a little for the lead. Check their hours and whether they need ID.
- SWACO household hazardous waste. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio accepts vehicle batteries from Franklin County residents (not businesses). Check the opening hours before you drive over.
A quick phone call beats lugging a battery across the parking lot to a door that closed an hour ago.
What is a battery core charge?
A core charge is a refundable deposit added to the price of a new battery. It exists to make sure the old one comes back for recycling. In a Clark.com comparison of major US stores (April 2026), the core charge was $15 to $22. That is a market figure, not a Roadmate price.
To get it back, return an old battery to the store where you bought the new one, usually with your receipt. When we replace your battery, there is nothing to claim back: the core charge is included in our price.
Think of it as a bottle deposit with a lot more lead in it. For what the battery itself costs, see our car battery cost guide.
How to recycle a car battery safely
A car battery weighs about 30 to 50 pounds, according to The Drive, and it holds acid. Treat it with respect.
- Wear gloves and eye protection.
- If it is still in the car, take the negative cable off first. Our guide on how to disconnect a car battery covers the order.
- Lift it with both hands and keep it upright. Do not carry it by the terminals.
- Tape over both terminals so nothing metal can touch them, as Ohio EPA advises for batteries at drop-off.
- Set it in a sturdy plastic tub or box on the floor of the trunk, wedged so it cannot tip.
- Never put it on a seat, and do not store it next to sparks or flames.
The garage corner is where old batteries go to be forgotten, not recycled. Move it while you still remember where it is.
What if the battery is leaking or cracked?
Do not touch the liquid. It is sulfuric acid and it burns skin, eyes and clothes. If it gets on you, flush with plenty of water and get medical help.
- Keep the battery upright and away from children and pets.
- With gloves on, place it in a heavy plastic bag or a leak-proof tub.
- Call the store or SWACO before you bring it, and say it is damaged.
- If you are not sure it is safe to move, leave it for a professional.
Let the technician take it away
The easiest old battery to dispose of is the one you never lift. When Roadmate replaces a battery in Columbus, the technician takes the old one away and recycles it, and the core charge is included in the price. No heavy box of acid in your trunk, no trip across town.
- We fit DieHard batteries supplied by Advance Auto. Flooded, EFB and AGM in common sizes are on the truck.
- We do all battery types and locations, including trunk and under-seat batteries.
- Most replacements take 15 to 45 minutes on site, depending on the vehicle.
- Battery replacement is quoted by phone before anyone drives to you.
That last point matters to us. You should see the price before a technician heads your way, not after. As Hassan puts it: “We see people wasting time going to a mechanic shop or auto parts store, but they don’t do all kinds of vehicles, or they pick the wrong one. Call us and we come to you.”
Not everything needs us, though. If your car starts and you are buying the battery at a store anyway, hand the old one over at the counter. Doing it yourself? Read how to replace a car battery first.
Frequently asked questions
Will a parts store take an old car battery?
Most will. In Ohio, any store that sells lead-acid car batteries must take your old one when you buy a new one there. Many parts stores also accept old batteries without a purchase, but call first.
What do you do with an old car battery?
Take it to a battery retailer, a repair shop, a scrap or battery recycler, or a household hazardous waste drop-off. If a technician is replacing it, ask them to take the old one away.
Can I throw a car battery in the trash in Ohio?
No. Ohio law bans used lead-acid batteries from solid and hazardous waste landfills and from being mixed with household trash. They also must not go in curbside recycling bins.
What is a battery core charge and how do I get it back?
It is a refundable deposit added to the price of a new battery, about $15 to $22 at major US stores in one April 2026 comparison. You get it back when you return an old battery, usually with your receipt, at the store where you bought the new one.
How do I carry an old car battery safely?
Wear gloves and eye protection, keep the battery upright, and set it in a sturdy plastic tub or box on the floor of the trunk. Tape over the terminals so nothing metal can touch them. Never carry it on a seat.
The bottom line
A car battery never goes in the trash or the recycling bin. In Ohio, take it to a battery retailer, a repair shop, a recycler or SWACO’s household hazardous waste drop-off, and return it to get your core charge back. Carry it upright, taped and boxed. Or let the technician who replaces it take it away.
New battery, old one gone
Roadmate replaces batteries where your car is parked in Columbus and takes the old one for recycling. Call (380) 288-2822, 6 AM to 8 PM daily, Eastern Time. A dispatcher confirms the battery, the price and an arrival estimate before anyone heads your way.
Your garage corner will finally have room for something more cheerful.