Household batteries and light bulbs including Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, Fluorescent tubes, and LED bulbs are considered hazardous waste and must not be placed in trash or recycling containers (incandescent light bulbs may be disposed of as trash). The City of Pasadena offers various options for the disposal of these materials. Please see the table below for disposal options for each type.
Safety Notes:
- Please visit the EPA website for guidance on broken CFLs or other mercury-containing bulbs.
- While storing or when disposing of lithium-ion batteries, cover the terminals with tape and/or keep them bagged separately to minimize the risk of fires.
- Lithium-ion batteries are the leading cause of refuse truck/facility fires. Please take care to recycle properly.
Battery Disposal Options
Type | City of Pasadena Drop-Off Sites | One-Day E-Waste Events | S.A.F.E Collection Centers | Hardware Stores (*) | Automotive Stores (*) | |
Single Use Batteries | Alkaline and Zinc- Carbon batteries such as 9-Volt, AA, AAA, C, D | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Lithium Single Use | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
Button-Cell or Coin | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
Rechargeable Batteries | Nickel Cadmium (Ni- Cd) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Nickel Metal Hydride (NI-MH) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Nickel-Zinc (Ni-Zn) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Small-Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA-Pb) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Automotive Batteries | Lead-Acid | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Medium and Large Scale
Li-ion (**) | No | No | No | No | No | |
Light Bulbs | Compact Fluorescent (CFL) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Fluorescent Tubes (no housing) | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
LED | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Battery Disposal Options (Please click here to view the above table as a PDF)
(*) Recycling services at commercial locations are not guaranteed. Contact your local store for availability.
(**) Contact the manufacturer for recycling options.
Click the links below for hours and holiday schedule of the individual locations.
Check in at the front desk for instructions/directions to drop-off receptacles.
Hastings Library
3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
Jackie Robinson Center
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena, CA
La Pintoresca Library
1355 N. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA
Victory Park Center
2575 Paloma St.
Pasadena, CA
Villa Parke Center
363 E. Villa St.
Pasadena, CA
Santa Catalina Library
999 E. Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
The City holds One-Day E-Waste and Document Shredding events for residents throughout the year. These events are posted on the Calendar. If you would like to subscribe for notifications of upcoming events, sign up through the Citizen Service Center.
Los Angeles County also hosts one-day events for Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste. Please visit their website for more information.
Los Angeles County residents can visit the S.A.F.E Collection Centers maintained by the City of Los Angeles for free Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste disposal. Visit their website for collection center locations and more information.
Small businesses can also find information on their page about options for disposal.