Table of Contents
- What Texas Law Actually Says
- Auto Parts Stores: The Fastest Option
- What Longview's City Program Covers
- Common Mistakes
- Tex's Take
- FAQ
What Texas Law Actually Says
Under TCEQ rule 30 TAC 330.15(e), lead-acid batteries are explicitly prohibited from disposal in any municipal solid waste facility in Texas. That means no trash cart, no dumpster, no landfill. Violation is a Class C Misdemeanor.
There is also a purchase-side rule. Texas law requires any retailer that sells lead-acid batteries to accept your old one in exchange when you buy a new battery. That sign you have seen posted at auto parts counters is not optional for them, it is state law under 30 TAC 328.16.
This combination makes disposal straightforward. The same places that sell you a new battery are legally required to take the old one. And used motor oil, which falls under the same TCEQ prohibition, follows an identical pattern at auto parts retailers across the state.
Auto Parts Stores: The Fastest Option
Longview has three AutoZone locations and four O'Reilly locations, all of which accept used lead-acid car batteries. AutoZone gives a $10 merchandise credit per battery even if you are not buying anything that day. O'Reilly accepts batteries for free recycling. Neither chain requires a purchase to drop off.
| Store | Address | Phone | Hours | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoZone | 2301 Gilmer Rd, Longview TX 75604 | (903) 295-8191 | Mon-Thu 7:30AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 7:30AM-10PM, Sun 8AM-9PM | $10 merch credit |
| AutoZone | 714 W Marshall, Longview TX 75601 | (903) 757-2611 | Mon-Sat 7:30AM-10PM, Sun 8AM-9PM | $10 merch credit |
| AutoZone | 3663 Estes Pkwy, Longview TX 75603 | (903) 475-1748 | Mon-Sat 7:30AM-9PM, Sun 8AM-8PM | $10 merch credit |
| O'Reilly Auto Parts | 2400 Judson Rd, Longview TX | (430) 558-7232 | Call ahead to confirm | Free |
| O'Reilly Auto Parts | 2220 Gilmer Rd, Longview TX | (903) 295-2855 | Call ahead to confirm | Free |
| O'Reilly Auto Parts | 1919 Alpine Rd, Longview TX | (903) 236-9670 | Call ahead to confirm | Free |
| O'Reilly Auto Parts | 501 W Marshall, Longview TX | (903) 236-9859 | Call ahead to confirm | Free |
AutoZone's $10 credit limit is 10 batteries per customer per day. Excludes lawn and garden, motorcycle, and personal watercraft batteries. O'Reilly hours not listed on official pages as of May 2026 -- call before making a trip.
What Longview's City Program Covers
The City of Longview Sanitation Department runs a solid curbside recycling program with blue-lid cart collection. They have also expanded accepted plastics to #1 through #7 and accept antifreeze at Fleet Services (933 Mobile Dr, Mon-Fri 8AM-4PM, phone 903-237-1250).
Car batteries are not part of that program. They are not accepted at the curbside, not at the compost site on Swinging Bridge Rd, and not at Fleet Services. The city's official recycling disposal guide does not list car batteries as an accepted item. Auto parts retailers are the verified path. If you have other items to deal with alongside the battery, the other e-waste disposal options in Longview follow a similar retailer-based model.
Common Mistakes
Putting it in the blue recycling cart. The blue-lid cart goes to a Materials Recovery Facility that handles paper, cardboard, plastics, and cans. A lead-acid battery with sulfuric acid inside does not belong there and can contaminate an entire load.
Assuming the landfill will take it. Republic Services Pinehill Landfill on Four S Industrial Blvd serves Longview but is bound by TCEQ 30 TAC 330.15. Lead-acid batteries are on the prohibited list. Do not make the trip expecting them to accept it.
Storing it indefinitely in the garage. A cracked or leaking lead-acid battery left in an enclosed space is a sulfuric acid exposure risk. Get it out within a few days. It does not get easier to deal with the longer it sits in a Longview summer.
Transporting it on its side. Keep the battery upright during transport to prevent acid leakage. If the case is visibly cracked, double-bag it in heavy plastic before loading it into a vehicle.
Tex's Take
AutoZone is the move. Three locations in Longview, verified hours, $10 back per battery with no purchase required. That is not nothing. The O'Reilly locations are fine if one is closer to you, but call ahead first since their hours were not published on their official pages as of this writing.
The city not having a dedicated program for car batteries is a gap, but it is a gap that the auto parts retailers fill completely. You do not need a city program when y'all have seven retailer locations inside city limits.
FAQ
Can I throw a car battery in the trash in Longview, TX?
No. Under TCEQ rule 30 TAC 330.15(e), lead-acid batteries are prohibited from disposal in any municipal solid waste facility in Texas. Putting one in your trash cart or at a landfill is a Class C Misdemeanor. Take it to any AutoZone or O'Reilly location in Longview instead.
Does AutoZone take old car batteries in Longview?
Yes. All three Longview AutoZone locations accept used lead-acid car batteries and give a $10 merchandise credit per battery. You do not need to buy a new battery to drop one off. The credit is limited to 10 batteries per customer per day and excludes motorcycle, lawn and garden, and personal watercraft batteries.
Does Longview have a city battery drop-off program?
No. The City of Longview Sanitation Department does not operate a dedicated car battery drop-off program. The city accepts antifreeze at Fleet Services but car batteries are not on the list of accepted items at any city facility. Auto parts retailers are the verified option.
Will O'Reilly take my battery even if I do not buy a new one?
Yes. O'Reilly Auto Parts accepts used batteries for free recycling whether or not you make a purchase. Texas law requires battery retailers to accept used lead-acid batteries for recycling on exchange when a new battery is purchased, but O'Reilly's policy extends to drop-offs without a purchase as well. Call your nearest Longview location to confirm hours before making the trip.
Data last verified May 2026 against official Longview city solid waste sources, TCEQ regulations, and AutoZone and O'Reilly official location pages. Hours, fees, and accepted items can change without notice. Call ahead before making a trip.
Seven locations, three of which pay you $10 for the trouble. The hardest part is picking the closest one.
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