How to Dispose of an Electric Scooter

How to dispose of an electric scooter is mostly about the battery. Like e-bikes, scooters run on lithium-ion packs that can catch fire if crushed in a trash truck, so the scooter cannot simply go to the curb. The frame is metal, the motor and controller are electronics, and each piece has a better destination than the landfill. This guide covers resale and repair first, then how to break a scooter down for recycling.

Repair or resell first

Many scooters fail for simple reasons: a flat or worn tire, a loose connector, a broken brake cable, or a charger that no longer works. Replacement tires, chargers, and controllers are widely sold. A scooter that does not run can still sell for parts, especially for popular models. List it honestly, noting what works and what does not.

Check the battery’s condition

Before handling a dead scooter, look for signs of battery trouble: a swollen deck, cracked casing, heat, smoke, a chemical smell, or damage from a crash or water. If you see any of these, move the scooter outdoors away from anything flammable, do not charge it, and call your household hazardous waste program or a battery recycler for advice.

Separating the battery

On many scooters the battery sits inside the deck or the stem and is held in with screws. If you are comfortable doing so and the battery is not damaged:

1. Power off the scooter and unplug the charger.
2. Remove the deck or stem cover screws.
3. Disconnect the battery connector by pulling the plug, not the wires.
4. Tape the battery’s terminals or connector and bag it.

If the battery is glued in, sealed, or hard to reach, leave it in place and tell the recycler the scooter contains a lithium battery.

Where each part goes

• Battery: a battery collection site that accepts larger lithium-ion packs, a participating retailer, or a household hazardous waste facility. See the battery recycling guide.
• Motor, controller, display, lights, and wiring: electronics recycling.
• Aluminum or steel frame: a scrap yard or transfer station metal pile, once the battery and electronics are out.
• Tires and plastic parts: usually trash.
• Charger: electronics recycling.

Whole scooters at e-waste sites

Some electronics recyclers and household hazardous waste programs take whole scooters with the battery inside, especially at collection events. Others refuse them. Call first, and mention the battery size if you know it.

Kids’ and kick scooters

Non-electric kick scooters are simpler: donate them if they are in good shape, or scrap the metal and trash the plastic and wheels. Small kids’ electric scooters still contain batteries, often sealed lead-acid or lithium, which need battery recycling.

How to dispose of an electric scooter FAQ

Can I throw an electric scooter in the trash?

No. The lithium battery can start fires in trash trucks and facilities. Recycle the battery and parts separately.

How do I remove a scooter battery?

On many models, remove the deck or stem cover, unplug the battery connector, and tape the terminals. Leave sealed or damaged batteries in place and ask a recycler.

Who takes old electric scooters?

Electronics recyclers, some household hazardous waste programs, and some retailers. Call ahead, since policies vary.

Is a broken electric scooter worth anything?

Often for parts, especially popular models. The frame metal also has scrap value.

What do I do with a swollen scooter battery?

Move it outside away from anything flammable, do not charge it, and contact a hazardous waste program for instructions.

The bottom line

How to dispose of an electric scooter safely starts with trying to keep it rolling through repair or resale. If it is done, isolate the lithium battery for a battery drop-off or hazardous waste site, recycle the motor and electronics, and scrap the metal frame. Never put a scooter with its battery in the trash.