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Dead vapes, batteries and old gadgets: free recycling in Nevada County

Phone number
(530) 265-7111 – Nevada County Solid Waste
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Nevada County households
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Nevada County recycles household batteries, and gadgets with built-in batteries (phones, laptops, ear buds, vapes), for free. Gadgets and big batteries go to McCourtney Road Transfer Station (Wed–Sun 8–3:30). Household batteries can also go to libraries, the Government Center, Nevada City Hall, the transfer stations, or bagged on top of your blue curbside cart.
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Free drop-off for batteries, vapes and electronics
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Vapeadores, baterías y aparatos viejos: reciclaje gratis en el Condado de Nevada Los aparatos con batería integrada (celulares, laptops, audífonos, vapeadores) se reciclan gratis en la estación de transferencia McCourtney Road (14741 Wolf Mountain Rd, Grass Valley), de miércoles a domingo, 8:00 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. Allí hay una caja especial solo para vapeadores. También puede donar sus vapeadores usados a TechEMPOWER: reutilizamos sus baterías para hacer pequeñas luces inteligentes para personas sin hogar. Las baterías de casa (AA, AAA, D, 9 voltios, de botón) también se aceptan gratis en el Centro de Gobierno del Condado, la Biblioteca de Grass Valley, la Biblioteca Madelyn Helling, el Ayuntamiento de Nevada City y las estaciones de North San Juan y Washington. O póngalas en una bolsa Ziploc transparente encima de su bote azul de reciclaje el día de recolección. Nunca tire baterías ni vapeadores a la basura: pueden causar incendios. Información: (530) 265-7111.
URL
nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx
Never put batteries, vapes or old phones in the trash or recycling bin. Lithium batteries crushed in garbage trucks start fires. In Nevada County, recycling them is free. (Verified 2026-09-28 against the county's 12/17/2025 news flash and the Transfer Stations page.)

Gadgets with a built-in battery (phones, laptops, ear buds, vapes, power tools)

  • Where: McCourtney Road Transfer Station, 14741 Wolf Mountain Rd, Grass Valley
  • When: Wednesday–Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (e-waste and universal waste)
  • Cost: Free
  • Vapes: two free options. Give them to TechEMPOWER, which turns used vapes into small smart lights for people who are unhoused (see below), or use the special vape box at McCourtney Road. Never put vapes in the trash or regular recycling.
  • If the battery is hard to get out, or needs special tools, bring the whole device.
[Source: Nevada County news flash, 12/17/2025: "Gadgets containing embedded batteries, including cell phones, laptops, ear buds, vapes and more can be recycled for free at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station." (nevadacountyca.gov, fetched 2026-09-28)]

Household batteries (AA, AAA, D, 9-volt, button)

Free drop-off at any of these:
  • Nevada County Government Center, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City
  • Grass Valley Library, 207 Mill St, Grass Valley
  • Madelyn Helling Library, 980 Helling Way, Nevada City
  • Nevada City Hall, 317 Broad St, Nevada City
  • McCourtney Road, North San Juan (10125 Flume St) and Washington (15886 Gaston Rd) transfer stations
  • Curbside: put them in a clear Ziploc bag on top of your blue recycle cart on pickup day.

Why this matters now

On Sept 28, 2026, California signed a ban on disposable (battery-embedded) tobacco vapes. Making or importing them is banned from Jan 1, 2027, and selling them in stores from Jan 1, 2028. Cannabis devices are not covered. (Reported by AP, 9/28/2026.) Until then, used ones still need a safe place to go: the transfer station.

Good to know

  • For paint, chemicals and other hazardous waste, see Free paint! Nevada County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW days are Fri–Sun).
  • TechEMPOWER collects used vapes. We reuse their batteries and shells to build small smart lights for people who are unhoused. Our device donation boxes also take computers and phones for reuse. Loose batteries still go to the county sites above.