Battery chemical symbols (Pb, Cd, Hg)
The chemical symbols Hg, Cd or Pb printed beneath the crossed-out bin on a battery. They show that it contains more than a set amount of mercury, cadmium or lead.
How to read it
Under the EU Batteries Directive, a battery containing more than 0.0005% mercury, 0.002% cadmium or 0.004% lead is marked with the chemical symbol for that metal: Hg, Cd or Pb. The symbol is printed beneath the crossed-out wheeled bin and covers at least a quarter of the bin’s size.
Also searched as: Cd symbol, Hg symbol, Pb symbol.
Differences by country or standard
The UK’s battery regulations set the same limits, by weight, but word the mercury rule for button cells: a button cell with more than 0.0005% mercury is marked Hg.
More recycling symbols
Sources
- Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators, Article 21, Directive 2006/66/EC, Art. 21, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives), Art. 21(3)
- The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008, regulation 6, SI 2008/2164, reg. 6, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives), reg. 6
- Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators, Annex II, Directive 2006/66/EC, Annex II, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives), Annex II
Last reviewed September 25, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research