Batteries

Yes, all good things must come to an end. To find the Best If Used By (BIUB) date of the batteries in question, please look on the uppermost section of the cells, near the battery type (AA, 9V, etc.). You will see a white box with the Best If Used By year printed within it. You can find smaller cells’ BIUB on the packaging. The best consumer experience & battery performance occurs with battery usage before the Best If Used By Date. The battery may function beyond that date but with lower performance.

Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. Never dispose of batteries in fire, as this could cause an explosion.

No. Household, zinc-carbon, rechargeable & fully drained lithium primary batteries are not hazardous waste. They are qualified as non-hazardous after having undergone government-required testing. Certain others, such as lead-acid rechargeables & nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, are required by regulation to be recycled. If you throw them away, then they are a hazardous waste. Recycling logos on these products contain the information you need for finding your recycling outlets.

No. Batteries should be removed from any device that will be stored for long periods of time.

Do NOT put loose batteries in your pocket. Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry location. Avoid temperature extremes. Keep batteries in original package until you are ready to use them.

Refer to the recycling logos on the battery & a telephone number or address identified on the label to identify if your battery can be recycled. Call2Recycle, a free recycling program for consumers, allows you to return your used rechargeable batteries at retail locations across the country. For specific information, please visit the Call2Recycle website. Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste.

No. Never mix batteries with different Best If Used By dates in a single device—battery leakage may occur. Replace all batteries in a device at the same time.

No. Never mix battery types—such as include alkaline, heavy duty & rechargeable—in a single device. Battery leakage may occur.

As chemistries & voltage vary across both battery types & brands, it's recommended that you do not mix batteries. Mixing of cells can result in battery leakage & sub-optimal device performance. For best results, replace all batteries with the same brand, chemistry voltage, & size when the device performance becomes unsatisfactory.

Batteries can’t deliver much power when they are cold. You may find that the flashlight kept in your car in the middle of winter casts a faint beam. Let the batteries warm up to normal temperature & try them again before you decide to replace the batteries.

For more information, please check these battery-related websites: National Capital Poison Control Center (NCPCC) – Battery Ingestion Hotline; Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC); Portable Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA); Independent Battery Manufacturers Association (IBMA); National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) – Batteries; Association of European Accumulator Manufacturers (Eurobat); Battery Association of Japan (BAJ); Battery Council International (BCI); British Battery Manufacturers Association (BBMA); China Industrial Association of Power Sources (CIAPS); European Portable Battery Association (EPBA).