Battery Recycling in Rochester, MN

Rechargeable, button and car batteries go free to the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility in Rochester.

See all 3 options

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

3 ways to get rid of a battery in Rochester

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · RochesterNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $75.00
How it works
Book online, set out your battery and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
Olmsted County Hazardous Waste FacilityCounty service · Olmsted CountyConditions applyFree
How it works
County household hazardous waste facility at 305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906 (address not matched by the Census geocoder), open Tuesday–Saturday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Takes paints, batteries, pesticides and other household hazardous waste free from residents.
Cost & rules
- Automotive, rechargeable and button batteries.
Official page (opens in new tab)
Minnesota lead acid battery retailer take-back (Minn. Stat. 325E.115 and 325E.1151)State program · MinnesotaOpen to everyoneConditions applyCost not listed
How it works
Anyone selling lead acid batteries at retail in Minnesota must accept used lead acid batteries from consumers, even without a purchase, and may not charge to receive them; up to five at a time. Buyers of a new battery pay a surcharge of at least $10 unless they return a used one (refundable within 30 days with a receipt). Lead acid batteries are banned from the trash.
Cost & rules
- Lead acid batteries (such as car batteries) only. Any lead acid battery retailer must take them, even if you do not buy a battery, and the law says retailers may not charge to receive them.
- If you buy a new battery without returning a used one, you pay a surcharge of at least $10, refunded if you bring a used battery and the receipt back within 30 days.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

Tape the terminals of lithium and rechargeable batteries before transport.
Keep damaged, swollen or leaking batteries separate and tell the operator.
Ask which battery types are accepted; car batteries often go somewhere different.

More about batteries

Minnesota rules

Since August 1, 1991, rechargeable batteries, rechargeable battery packs, products with a nonremovable rechargeable battery, and rechargeable-powered products with batteries still inside may not go in the trash. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.9157 Rechargeable batteries and products (opens in new tab)
Manufacturers of rechargeable batteries or rechargeable-powered products are responsible for the costs of collecting and managing their waste batteries and products. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.9157 Rechargeable batteries and products (opens in new tab)

More Minnesota rules (15)

The Battery Network describes Minnesota's law as a recycling law for rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, lithium-ion and small sealed lead acid), with a disposal ban and an industry collection program required to sell them. Source: The Battery Network: State Recycling Laws (opens in new tab)
A city, county or other political subdivision may run its own program to collect household batteries. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.961 Household batteries; collection, processing, and disposal (opens in new tab)
Since January 1, 1988, lead acid batteries may not be put in the trash or otherwise disposed of; violating this is a misdemeanor. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.915 Lead acid batteries; land disposal prohibited (opens in new tab)
Buyers of a lead acid battery at retail must return a used one or pay a surcharge of at least $10, refunded if a used battery and receipt are brought back within 30 days. Source: Minnesota Statutes 325E.1151 Lead acid battery purchase and return (opens in new tab)
Rechargeable battery under Minn. Stat. 115A.9157 means a sealed nickel-cadmium battery, a sealed lead acid battery, or any other rechargeable battery (with limited exceptions). Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.9157 Rechargeable batteries and products (opens in new tab)
Since 1995, manufacturers or their representative organization must run permanent collection programs expected to collect 90 percent of waste rechargeable batteries generated in Minnesota. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.9157 Rechargeable batteries and products (opens in new tab)
Rechargeable batteries and products that do not meet the collection requirements cannot be sold in Minnesota. Source: The Battery Network: State Recycling Laws (opens in new tab)
Mercuric oxide, silver oxide, nickel-cadmium and sealed lead-acid dry cell batteries bought or used by government agencies or industrial, communications or medical facilities may not go in the trash. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.9155 Disposing of certain dry cell batteries (opens in new tab)
Household batteries in Minnesota law are disposable or rechargeable dry cells (including alkaline, lithium, nickel-cadmium and carbon-zinc), excluding lead acid batteries. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.961 Household batteries; collection, processing, and disposal (opens in new tab)
Administrative penalties for a household that violates the mercury disposal ban may not exceed $700. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.932 Mercury prohibition (opens in new tab)
Household hazardous waste is waste from household activity that has the characteristics of, or is listed as, hazardous waste, not waste from commercial activity in a home. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab)
The MPCA must run a statewide household hazardous waste program, including collection sites and information, education and technical assistance. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab)
Each county must have a household hazardous waste management plan (education, reduction, and separating and collecting HHW from trash) and had to implement it by June 30, 1992. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab)
HHW programs must be allowed to accept up to 100 pounds of waste a year from a business generating 220 pounds or less of hazardous waste a month. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab)
An HHW collection site is a permanent or temporary location with scheduled hours where people may bring household hazardous waste. Source: Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (24)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Hazardous Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · Olmsted County Environmental Resources
- Residents can bring household hazardous waste, including automotive, rechargeable and button batteries and paints. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Items accepted at mobile collections can also be brought to the Hazardous Waste Facility for free. Checked October 26, 2026.
Garbage & Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Rochester
- Rochester says Olmsted County offers many waste diversion programs for Rochester residents and links its Household Hazardous Waste Recycling page. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 115A.9157 Rechargeable batteries and products (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Since August 1, 1991, rechargeable batteries, rechargeable battery packs, products with a nonremovable rechargeable battery, and rechargeable-powered products with batteries still inside may not go in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Rechargeable battery under Minn. Stat. 115A.9157 means a sealed nickel-cadmium battery, a sealed lead acid battery, or any other rechargeable battery (with limited exceptions). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Manufacturers of rechargeable batteries or rechargeable-powered products are responsible for the costs of collecting and managing their waste batteries and products. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Since 1995, manufacturers or their representative organization must run permanent collection programs expected to collect 90 percent of waste rechargeable batteries generated in Minnesota. Checked October 26, 2026.
The Battery Network: State Recycling Laws (opens in new tab) · The Battery Network
- The Battery Network describes Minnesota's law as a recycling law for rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, lithium-ion and small sealed lead acid), with a disposal ban and an industry collection program required to sell them. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Rechargeable batteries and products that do not meet the collection requirements cannot be sold in Minnesota. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 115A.9155 Disposing of certain dry cell batteries (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Mercuric oxide, silver oxide, nickel-cadmium and sealed lead-acid dry cell batteries bought or used by government agencies or industrial, communications or medical facilities may not go in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 115A.961 Household batteries; collection, processing, and disposal (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- A city, county or other political subdivision may run its own program to collect household batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Household batteries in Minnesota law are disposable or rechargeable dry cells (including alkaline, lithium, nickel-cadmium and carbon-zinc), excluding lead acid batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 115A.915 Lead acid batteries; land disposal prohibited (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Since January 1, 1988, lead acid batteries may not be put in the trash or otherwise disposed of; violating this is a misdemeanor. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 325E.1151 Lead acid battery purchase and return (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Buyers of a lead acid battery at retail must return a used one or pay a surcharge of at least $10, refunded if a used battery and receipt are brought back within 30 days. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Retailers of lead acid batteries must accept them from consumers and may not charge to receive them. Checked October 26, 2026.
- A consumer may not deliver more than five lead acid batteries to a retailer at one time. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The required retailer notice says the retailer must accept used lead acid batteries even if you do not buy a battery. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 325E.115 Lead acid batteries; collection for recycling (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Anyone selling lead acid batteries at retail in Minnesota must accept lead acid batteries from customers at the point of transfer; wholesalers must too. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 115A.932 Mercury prohibition (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Administrative penalties for a household that violates the mercury disposal ban may not exceed $700. Checked October 26, 2026.
Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Household hazardous waste is waste from household activity that has the characteristics of, or is listed as, hazardous waste, not waste from commercial activity in a home. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The MPCA must run a statewide household hazardous waste program, including collection sites and information, education and technical assistance. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Each county must have a household hazardous waste management plan (education, reduction, and separating and collecting HHW from trash) and had to implement it by June 30, 1992. Checked October 26, 2026.
- HHW programs must be allowed to accept up to 100 pounds of waste a year from a business generating 220 pounds or less of hazardous waste a month. Checked October 26, 2026.
- An HHW collection site is a permanent or temporary location with scheduled hours where people may bring household hazardous waste. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

How we check our information