Used lithium-ion batteries like the ones in cell phones and laptops, vape pens and power tools don’t belong in the trash can or the recycling bin — in fact, they can start a fire in a recycling center or trash truck. But they can safely go to free drop-off locations throughout Northwest Arkansas, which minimizes the risk and allows valuable lithium and other materials to be reused.

Drop-off locations that accept lithium-ion batteries and other varieties of batteries are listed in the following table, alphabetical by city. Electronics and office supply store locations such as Best Buy, Staples, Lowe’s and Home Depot throughout the region also accept devices and their batteries for recycling. (Note that while some drop-off locations also take alkaline batteries, like alkaline AAs and AAAs, these generally aren’t a hazard in the trash.)

• Centerton: Benton County Solid Waste District drop-off at 5702 Brookside Road, open 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries, lead acid/car batteries, and other non-alkaline batteries. 
• Fayetteville:
  • City of Fayetteville 24-7 drop-offs at 735 W. North St. and 1420 S. Happy Hollow Road. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries and other non-alkaline, non-lead acid batteries.
  • City of Fayetteville HHW trailer at the corner of South Happy Hollow Road and 15^th Street (open 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday). Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries, lead acid/car batteries, and other non-alkaline batteries. 
  • Free Geek of Arkansas at 521 W. Ash St., open noon-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries.
• Prairie Grove: Boston Mountain Solid Waste District drop-off at 11398 Bond Road, open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8-11 a.m. Saturday. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries, lead acid/car batteries, and other non-alkaline batteries. 
• Rogers:
  • Benton County Solid Waste District drop-off at 2307 N. Arkansas St., open 8-11 a.m. and noon-3p.m. Tuesday through Friday as well as the second and fourth Saturday of the month. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries, lead acid/car batteries, and other non-alkaline batteries. 
  • eSCO Processing and Recycling at 2111 S. 8^th St., warehouse open 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (charges a fee). Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries and other non-alkaline, non-lead acid batteries.
• Siloam Springs: Benton County Solid Waste District drop-off 1108 E. Ashley St., open 8 a.m.-noon on the first and third Saturday of the month. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries, lead acid/car batteries, and other non-alkaline batteries. 
• Springdale: Boston Mountain Solid Waste District drop-off at 1809 S. Lowell Road, open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Accepts rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries, lead acid/car batteries, and other non-alkaline batteries. 

Interested in recycling at your school, community group or business? This website can help get you started; click on your city on the “How do I recycle?” page for a rundown of your community’s services, or find our toolkits and tips below for recycling wherever you are.

Event recycling toolkits

No matter its size or variety, almost every event creates waste, and that means you can recycle there. Our event recycling toolkit provides organizers of festivals and gatherings with an easy-to-understand checklist, contacts, printable signs and other essential resources for a less wasteful, more eco-friendly experience:

• Event Recycling Toolkit

We’ve also got a separate event guide specifically for recycling during litter cleanups around the region:

• Cleanup Recycling Guide

Drop-off guides

If you don’t have curbside service or have an item that curbside programs won’t take, these guides can help you find the best place to go:

• Standard recyclables (cans, bottles, boxes and paper)
• Electronics
• Household chemicals

These guides will be updated often, so check back for more and let us know if you spot something out of date with the Contact form on the Home page.

For business owners

Your waste hauler and companies such as Marck Recycling in Rogers, TRG Fayetteville, Food Loops and Food Recycling Solutions may be able to accept or pick up a variety of materials for recycling; contact them to learn more.

Northwest Arkansas’ solid waste districts provide free, no-obligation business waste audits to give a rundown of what you throw away and suggest how you could recycle more of it. In some cases recycling can reduce your overall waste hauling needs and lower your bills. Find their contact information to the right (or below if on mobile).

In the private sector, some haulers and companies such as Food Loops offer similar audits.

For educators

Teachers have a crucial role to play in recycling, not just in teaching their students what it is but in building good habits that could last generations as well.

• A good place to start is our glossary of recycling-related terms and concepts, which can help you put together your own lessons, discussions and activities.
• You can reach out to the city of Fayetteville or one of the region’s two solid waste districts (contact information on this page) for lesson plans and other suggestions that may be customized by age group.
• More resources are coming soon! Keep an eye on this space.

For elected officials

An excellent contract with a private waste hauling company is one of the best tools a city can use to improve its recycling: It sets the ground rules for the programs residents use every day and can adapt to each city’s particular needs.

In support of the region’s goal to make recycling more efficient and successful, NWA Recycles developed five recommendations for waste-hauling agreements. Learn more in our municipal waste contract toolkit.