Power tool batteries are slide-on or insert packs, usually 12 to 60 volts, built from small lithium-ion cells and, in older tools, nickel-cadmium. Contractors, maintenance departments and rental yards accumulate them quickly because packs fail before tools do. This page shows how to identify them, tape them and send them for recycling.
How do you identify power tool batteries?
Check the label for voltage, amp-hour rating and chemistry. Modern cordless tools use lithium-ion packs marketed as 12-volt, 18-volt, 20-volt max or 40-volt and above. Nominal voltage is calculated from cells in series, and a 20-volt max pack is generally an 18-volt nominal pack. Watt-hours equal nominal volts times amp-hours, so an 18-volt, 5 amp-hour pack is 90 watt-hours. If a marking is unreadable, assume the more cautious classification until it is confirmed.
Older tools and some brands still use nickel-cadmium (NiCd) or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) packs. NiCd contains cadmium, a toxic metal that must be recovered and not landfilled, and the label may include the recycling mark or the words NiCd. Outdoor equipment packs for mowers, blowers and chainsaws are larger, with higher voltage and watt-hour ratings. Separate chemistries before you pack them, because their transport and recycling rules differ. Serial numbers and part numbers let a recycler check chemistry and weight against manufacturer records.
- Look for Li-ion, NiCd or NiMH on the pack label
- Large 60-volt and above outdoor-equipment packs often exceed 100 watt-hours
- Brand mixing is fine for recycling, but chemistries should be sorted
What hazards come with power tool batteries?
The major hazard is short circuit through exposed contacts. Slide packs have metal terminals that can touch wrenches, loose screws or other batteries in a bin and produce intense heat. Lithium-ion packs add the risk of thermal runaway if cells are crushed, dropped or exposed to heat. Left in hot vehicles or sheds, packs age quickly and may swell. Smoke from a lithium battery fire is toxic, so people should move upwind and away before anything else.
Job-site conditions amplify risk. Packs are dropped, run over and stored in tool boxes alongside metal parts. Cracked housings, melted plastic and loose cells are signs a pack is unsafe. Keep damaged packs separate in a non-combustible container with sand or vermiculite if you have them, and do not charge a pack that has been dropped hard, wet or that smells of solvent. A full charge in storage also increases the reaction if something goes wrong.
How should you prepare power tool batteries for recycling?
Cover the terminals of each pack with non-conductive tape, or slide a plastic cap over them if the manufacturer supplied one. Put each pack in its own plastic bag or in a divided box so contacts cannot touch. Remove packs from tools and chargers. Do not open packs, remove cells or attempt to repair them, as cells are welded and loose cells are easy to short. Take care not to use metal containers without a liner, because conductive surfaces can bridge exposed terminals.
Sort by chemistry and condition. Lithium-ion packs go in one container, NiCd and NiMH in another, and damaged or swollen packs in a third, clearly labeled. A moderate state of charge is better than a full charge for storage and shipping, but you do not need to drain packs to zero. A pack that fails to charge, runs very hot, or is physically damaged should be treated as a damaged battery.
- Tape or cap contacts before storage
- Use plastic bags, dividers or original packaging to separate packs
- Label containers by chemistry and condition
How are power tool batteries classified for transport?
Lithium-ion packs are UN3480 when shipped alone and UN3481 when packed with or contained in a tool. Both are Class 9 under 49 CFR 173.185. Packs at or under 100 watt-hours, which includes many slide packs, can qualify for the small-battery exception, while larger outdoor-equipment packs often exceed it. Recycling loads moving by truck can also use the disposal-and-recycling provision in 49 CFR 173.185(d). Mark and package for the full requirements when in doubt. Anyone who signs shipping papers for dangerous goods must be trained, and the training must be current.
NiCd packs are not covered by the lithium UN numbers, but they still need protection from short circuit and are managed as hazardous in disposal. For air, lithium-ion batteries shipped alone must be at no more than 30 percent state of charge and damaged or defective packs are forbidden. For ground shipment, damaged or defective packs fall under 49 CFR 173.185(f) and need special packaging. We confirm classification before pickup or prepaid shipping.
How do contractors and maintenance teams handle these batteries as universal waste?
Construction firms, facilities teams and rental companies can manage spent packs as universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273, with EPA’s May 2023 memo explaining that most lithium battery waste can use the pathway. Use closed, labeled containers, keep them dry, and send them for recycling within one year. NiCd and NiMH batteries are also within the universal waste battery category. Do not combine universal waste batteries with ordinary trash, with other hazardous waste or with unrelated electronics.
A practical program places a labeled bin at the tool crib or warehouse and trains foremen to tape contacts before dropping packs in. Keep the bin out of vehicles in summer heat. If you service tools for others, keep a record of batteries received. State rules vary on collection and storage, so check the state page for your location, and ask us about pickup or prepaid shipping that fits your volume.
What gets recovered and what affects the cost?
Lithium-ion tool packs yield cobalt, nickel, lithium, copper, aluminum and graphite, along with steel and plastic. Cells are processed into black mass and refined by hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy. NiCd packs yield nickel, steel and cadmium, and cadmium must be recovered under controlled processes. Direct recycling of cathode material remains largely in development.
Tool packs are small, so how they are consolidated matters a great deal. Cobalt-bearing cells in older tools can offset some cost, while NiCd handling adds specialized processing. Small loose loads cost more per pound than palletized loads. Damaged packs require special packaging. We quote each job after you tell us the count, chemistries, condition and location, with options for pickup or prepaid shipping. Recoverable value shifts with commodity markets, so the same battery can be quoted differently at different times.
Industries that generate power tool batteries
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I recycle packs from different brands together?
Yes, but sort them by chemistry and condition. Mixed brands of the same chemistry can usually go in the same container.
Do I have to take the cells out of a dead pack?
No. Do not open packs. Tape the contacts and recycle the pack intact.
What about NiCd packs from old tools?
They are recyclable and should be, because cadmium is toxic. Keep them separate from lithium-ion packs and tell us how many you have.
How should I store packs until pickup?
Store taped packs in a closed, non-combustible container in a cool, dry place away from flammables, and keep damaged packs separate.
Are large outdoor equipment batteries regulated differently?
They are still lithium-ion UN3480 or UN3481 Class 9 material, but their higher watt-hour ratings mean small-battery exceptions rarely apply. Packs of 12 kilograms or more have additional large-battery provisions.