Where Do You Take Power Banks and Rechargeable Batteries?

Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries can become "waste that catches fire"

The lithium-ion batteries used in power banks (known in Japan as "mobile batteries"), smartphones, laptop computers, and similar products use a flammable organic solvent as their electrolyte. If they receive an impact or are crushed, the positive and negative electrode plates can short-circuit inside the cell, and the resulting rapid buildup of heat can end in ignition (Source: Tokyo Fire Department, "Incorrect Waste Sorting Causes Fires!").

According to the Tokyo Fire Department, of the 33 refuse collection vehicle fires that occurred in 2024 (Reiwa 6), 14 were related to lithium-ion batteries, as were 7 of the 17 fires at waste treatment facilities — making lithium-ion batteries the single most common cause in both cases (Source: same as above). Cases have been reported in which lithium-ion batteries put out mixed in with burnable or non-burnable waste ignited after being compressed inside a collection vehicle or taking an impact from a crusher at a treatment facility.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has also issued a warning, noting that fires originating from lithium-ion batteries are increasing year by year (Source: Fire and Disaster Management Agency, "Lithium-Ion Battery Comprehensive Countermeasures Portal"). In addition, the Consumer Affairs Agency has announced that, for products that people "wear or carry with them" such as wireless earphones, smartwatches, and handheld fans, 162 reports of accidents involving smoke, overheating, ignition, rupture, or explosion were received over the five fiscal years from 2020 to 2024, and that 136 of them (84.0%) are believed to have been caused by lithium-ion batteries (Source: Consumer Affairs Agency, "Beware of Fire Accidents Caused by Products Using Lithium-Ion Batteries"). Power banks contain the same type of battery, so handling them like other waste can create the same kind of risk.

Keep them out of general waste and use a dedicated collection route

Because of these risks, power banks and rechargeable batteries should be kept out of general waste and non-burnable waste and put out through the dedicated collection routes described below. Trying to take a product apart to remove the battery risks smoke and fire, so bring the product in exactly as it is (Sources: Tokyo Fire Department, "Incorrect Waste Sorting Causes Fires!"; JBRC official website, "How to Dispose of Batteries").

The recycling system for small rechargeable batteries and the batteries it covers

Under the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (資源有効利用促進法), battery manufacturers and the makers of the equipment that uses them have been required since April 2001 (Heisei 13) to collect and recycle small secondary batteries (small rechargeable batteries). Four types are covered: nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and small sealed lead-acid batteries (Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Recycling of Small Secondary Batteries").

The organization that carries out this system is JBRC, a general incorporated association whose members are battery and electrical equipment manufacturers. JBRC began its activities in April 2004 and collects small rechargeable batteries from "cooperating stores," "cooperating municipalities," and "cooperating businesses" nationwide in order to recycle them into reusable resources (Source: JBRC official website, "About JBRC").

How to put out a power bank itself

JBRC's guidance states that power banks whose main function is charging mobile phones and smartphones are collected as complete units, without removing the battery (Source: JBRC official website, "How to Dispose of Batteries"). The most reliable approach for used rechargeable batteries and power banks is to look up your nearest collection location using the "Search for Cooperating Stores and Cooperating Municipalities" tool on the JBRC official website, and then bring the item there (Source: JBRC official website, "Search for Cooperating Stores and Cooperating Municipalities").

METI's guidance likewise states that used rechargeable batteries should be brought to a recycling cooperating store, and that cooperating stores can be found on JBRC's website (Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Recycling of Small Secondary Batteries"). In some cases, bringing an item to a registered electrical appliance retailer — when making a purchase, for example — means it can be collected as a trade-in (Source: JBRC official website, "Search for Cooperating Stores and Cooperating Municipalities").

Always check your municipality's collection rules as well

Some municipalities have their own collection counters, such as drop-off collection points or separate collection of items as hazardous or dangerous waste. Whether collection is offered and how items must be put out differ from one municipality to another, so please be sure to check the waste and recyclables sorting rules of the municipality where you live.

About the items covered by the Home Appliance Recycling Act

Note that the four item categories covered by the Home Appliance Recycling Act (家電リサイクル法, the Act on Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances) — air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, and washing machines and clothes dryers (Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Home Appliance Recycling Act") — are governed by a different legal framework and disposal route from power banks and rechargeable batteries, and are not covered by this service. For how to dispose of them, please check with the store where you purchased them, your municipality, or METI's official information.

Summary

Because power banks and rechargeable batteries carry a risk of catching fire, it is important to keep them out of general waste and put them out through JBRC cooperating stores and cooperating municipalities, or through the dedicated collection routes your municipality provides. For specific collection locations and instructions on how to put items out, please check both the search system on the JBRC official website and the official information from the municipality where you live.