Recycling symbol answer

Pb, Cd and Hg battery symbols explained

These markings can appear near the crossed-out wheeled-bin symbol on batteries.

Quick answerPb means lead, Cd means cadmium and Hg means mercury. The chemical symbol indicates the presence of the relevant heavy metal above the applicable marking threshold.

Pb

Lead-containing batteries include lead-acid batteries commonly used in vehicles and backup systems.

Cd and Hg

Cadmium and mercury require controlled collection because of hazardous constituents.

Safe route

Keep marked batteries out of household bins and use a battery retailer, dedicated collection point or hazardous-waste service.

Common questions

Questions people ask

Can marked batteries go in household recycling?

No. Use a dedicated battery route.

Is an unmarked battery safe for the bin?

No. Most batteries still require separate collection.

What about damaged lithium batteries?

Avoid handling or transporting them casually; follow local fire-safety and hazardous-waste guidance.

Reference sources

Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 — Batteries and waste batteriesOpen source ↗Your Europe — WEEE label and separate collection requirementsOpen source ↗

Checked 2026-08-16

Pb

Cd and Hg

Safe route

Questions people ask

Reference sources

Open the underlying symbol guides