S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and Redwood Materials to Hold Earth Day Rechargeable Battery Drop-off Event in Columbia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 11, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolinians are encouraged to take advantage of a free, rechargeable battery drop-off event to be held on Earth Day, April 22, through a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and Redwood Materials.

The Earth Day Rechargeable Battery Drop-off is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 at the SCDES Office main entrance located at 2600 Bull Street. The event is for devices with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which are commonly used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes, power tool batteries, rechargeable vacuum batteries, wireless headphones and more. 

For loose lithium-ion or nickel-metal-hydride batteries, please tape both ends of the battery. Please remove all personal data from devices prior to drop-off. Visit redwoodmaterials.com/recycle-with-us for more information.

Left: Morgan Crapps, Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations with Redwood Materials, receives rechargeable batteries from a resident during a drop-off event last fall. Right: Devices with rechargeable batteries can be dropped off at the April 22 collection event, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes, power tool batteries, rechargeable vacuum batteries, wireless headphones and more.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries shouldn’t be disposed of in household trash or recycling services – they require special handling and recycling to reduce the risk of fires and other safety hazards. 

It’s estimated that lithium-ion batteries improperly placed in recyclables collected from households cause an estimated 5,000 fires annually at recycling facilities according to a recent report. The number of fires is expected to rise given the expected growth in the use of these batteries. 

Most South Carolina residents have opportunities to recycle single-use and rechargeable batteries at no cost. To determine if your community has a battery recycling program, visit des.sc.gov/RecycleHereSC. 

In November 2023, South Carolina’s Take Charge: Be Battery Smart public information campaign launched to provide important information and resources about battery safety. Be Battery Smart is centered on household batteries — it’s important to note that businesses must follow all requirements for both large and small quantity hazardous waste generators. For more information, visit BeBatterySmart.com. 

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