How to Dispose of an Electric Toothbrush Safely

How to dispose of an electric toothbrush comes down to one part: the battery sealed inside the handle. Most rechargeable brushes run on a lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride cell, and those batteries should not go in the household trash or the curbside recycling cart. The handle belongs at an electronics or battery recycling drop-off instead. The brush heads, on the other hand, are ordinary trash in most places. Here is how to handle each piece, where to take it, and what to do with the cheaper brushes that use AA or AAA batteries.

The quick answer

• Rechargeable handle: take the whole handle to an electronics recycling drop-off, a household hazardous waste site, or a store with a rechargeable battery collection box.
• Do not put the handle in the trash or the recycling cart. A crushed lithium-ion battery can spark a fire in a garbage truck or sorting plant.
• Charging base and travel charger: recycle them with electronics; they have no battery but contain wiring and metal.
• Brush heads: trash, unless you have access to a mail-in or store take-back program for oral care items.
• AA or AAA powered brushes: pull the batteries and handle them separately, then recycle the brush body with electronics if your area takes it.

Why it should not go in the trash

An electric toothbrush looks like a small piece of plastic, which is exactly why so many end up in the kitchen trash. Inside the handle, though, is a small motor, a circuit board and a sealed battery. When a garbage truck compacts a load, or a machine at a recycling plant crushes or punctures that battery, it can short out, overheat and catch fire. Waste haulers and recycling facilities around the country report fires blamed on lithium-ion batteries hidden in household waste. In some states it is also against the rules to throw rechargeable batteries in the trash, and a few states restrict putting small electronics there too. Recycling the handle also recovers metals such as copper and nickel.

Check what battery it has

Look at the bottom of the handle, the original box or the user manual. You will usually find one of these:

• Lithium-ion (Li-ion): common in most newer rechargeable brushes. These carry the highest fire risk when damaged.
• Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH): found in many older and lower-priced rechargeable models. Less of a fire risk, but still meant for recycling.
• Replaceable AA or AAA cells: found in basic battery-powered brushes that do not sit on a charger.

If you cannot tell, treat it as lithium-ion. Every drop-off that accepts rechargeable batteries takes both kinds.

Where to recycle an electric toothbrush

1. Your county or city electronics drop-off. Many solid waste departments, transfer stations and convenience centers take small electronics for free or a small fee. Search your county on Dumpmapper and check the facility's accepted materials, or read our electronics disposal guide.
2. Household hazardous waste collection. Permanent HHW sites and collection days usually accept rechargeable batteries and the devices that hold them.
3. Retail battery collection boxes. Many hardware, home improvement and office supply stores host free rechargeable battery drop-off boxes, often run through the Call2Recycle program, which has an online locator. Some boxes accept small devices with the battery still inside, while others want loose batteries only, so read the sign or ask staff.
4. Electronics retailers. Some big-box electronics stores take small electronics for recycling. Policies change and vary by store, so call first.
5. Brand or mail-in programs. Toothbrush makers and recycling companies have offered take-back or mail-in programs at times. Check the brand's website to see whether one is running near you.

Our guide on where to recycle batteries covers the battery side in more detail.

Should you take the battery out?

Usually, no. Most rechargeable toothbrushes are sealed, and prying one open can damage the battery, which is the very thing you are trying to avoid. Drop-off sites that accept small electronics are set up to take the battery out safely. A few user manuals include an end-of-life section that shows how to open the handle and remove the battery for recycling. If yours does, and the site you plan to use only takes loose batteries, follow those steps exactly, wear eye protection, and stop if the battery is swollen, dented or hot.

Before you drop the handle off:

• Run the battery down if you can, by leaving the brush switched on until it stops.
• Put a piece of clear tape over any exposed metal contacts.
• Put it in its own small plastic bag so it does not rub against other batteries.
• If the handle is cracked, swollen or leaking, do not charge it again. Bag it on its own, keep it away from anything flammable, and tell the drop-off staff it is damaged.

Brush heads, chargers and cases

Replacement heads are made from mixed plastics, nylon bristles and often a small metal part, so curbside programs do not accept them. In most areas they go in the trash. Some oral care brands have supported mail-in recycling programs for used brushes and heads; if one is active and convenient, it is a good option. Before you toss old heads, they make handy scrub brushes for grout, jewelry and bike chains.

Charging stands, travel chargers and USB cords are electronics. Bundle them with the handle for the drop-off, or see our post on old cables and cords. A plastic travel case with no electronics goes in the trash unless it carries a recycling code your program accepts.

Battery-powered brushes with AA or AAA cells

Basic spin brushes that run on regular batteries are simpler. Open the battery compartment and remove the cells. In most states, single-use alkaline AA and AAA batteries are allowed in household trash, though recycling them is better where a program exists. California is a notable exception: all household batteries, alkaline included, are banned from the trash there. Rechargeable AA or AAA cells always go to a battery drop-off. The empty brush body still contains a small motor and wires, so take it to an electronics drop-off if your area accepts small items, or follow your local rules if it does not.

Can you donate or reuse it?

A used toothbrush handle is not something thrift stores or shelters will take, for hygiene reasons. Unopened brushes and sealed packs of replacement heads are a different story: many shelters, food pantries and dental clinics welcome new oral care supplies. If your handle still works and you are only switching brands, keep it as a spare or a cleaning tool.

Electric toothbrush disposal FAQ

Can I throw an electric toothbrush in the trash?

It is not a good idea. Rechargeable handles contain a lithium-ion or NiMH battery that can start a fire when crushed in a garbage truck, and some states ban rechargeable batteries from the trash.

Can electric toothbrushes go in the recycling bin?

No. Curbside recycling does not take electronics or batteries. Take the handle to an electronics drop-off, a household hazardous waste site or a rechargeable battery collection box.

Where can I recycle an electric toothbrush near me?

Check your county or city electronics drop-off, household hazardous waste site, or retail stores with rechargeable battery collection boxes. Call ahead to confirm they take small devices with the battery inside.

Do I need to remove the battery from my electric toothbrush?

Usually not. Most handles are sealed, and drop-off sites that take small electronics remove the battery safely. Only open it if the manual shows how and your drop-off wants loose batteries.

How do I dispose of electric toothbrush heads?

Used brush heads go in the trash in most areas because they mix plastic, nylon and metal. Use a brand or mail-in oral care recycling program if one is active and convenient.

What do I do with a swollen or damaged toothbrush battery?

Stop charging it, put it in its own bag away from anything flammable, and take it to a household hazardous waste site. Tell the staff it is damaged.

The bottom line

How to dispose of an electric toothbrush is mostly about the battery. Keep the rechargeable handle out of the trash and the recycling cart, and take it to an electronics drop-off, a household hazardous waste site or a rechargeable battery collection box. Tape the contacts and bag it first, and set aside damaged handles carefully. Recycle the charger with electronics, toss used brush heads unless a take-back program is available, and pull the AA or AAA batteries from basic brushes before you get rid of them.

Hauling it yourself? If the load won’t fit in the truck bed, a 6×10 ft open-rail utility trailer or a 4×8 ft folding trailer (it folds upright to store in a garage) can cost less than a couple of hauler trips. Tie everything down with ratchet tie-down straps; many sites charge extra for loose or uncovered loads. Bag loose debris in 55-gallon contractor bags so it’s quicker to unload.

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