This article describes the various batteries used in Apple portable products and how to properly recycle or dispose of them.

Apple utilizes lithium, lead-acid, nickel-metal hydride, nickel-cadmium, and Lithium-ion batteries in our portable products. These batteries should be returned to Apple for recycling or proper disposal.

Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries may pose health and environmental risks if not disposed of properly. They require special handling and should not be sent to landfills with municipal garbage. Various states have bans that prohibit the disposal of Ni-Cd batteries in municipal garbage. These states include Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

At this time, only Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries may be returned to an Apple authorized dealer for return to Apple. Other batteries should not be returned to the dealer or to Apple.

We recommend that non-NiCd batteries be disposed of according to local environmental requirements. In some jurisdictions, local recycling programs or other battery collection programs exist. Call your local or regional solid waste agency or recycling organizations to find out about battery disposal options in your area.

Lithium Batteries - Recycle or dispose of locally

Lithium batteries require disposal when dead, but you cannot throw them away. In addition to being potentially explosive, lithium is water reactive, requiring these batteries to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Therefore, after removing a dead battery from a board, clip off the lead wires (necessary for soldered batteries) and place the battery into the zip-lock wrapper that the replacement battery was taken from.

Lead-Acid Batteries - Recycle or dispose of locally

The Macintosh Portable and Macintosh PowerBook 100 main batteries are sealed lead-acid batteries. These batteries, which contain hazardous materials (lead and sulfuric acid), should not be thrown away with regular trash.

Nickel-Cadmium Batteries - Recycle locally, via Apple service provider, or via Apple directly

The battery contains hazardous materials that can be reclaimed. You may phone Apple at 1-800-500-7080 to arrange for proper disposal, or contact your local Apple service provider. To locate a service provider near you phone 1-800-538-9696.

Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries - Recycle or dispose of locally

These batteries should be recycled.

Lithium-ion - Recycle or dispose of locally

These batteries should be recycled.