The growing production of high-tech devices is strongly associated to a great waste of natural resources and to environmental contamination caused either by the production process of such devices as the quick disposal of them. Cell phones have stood out from the most commercialized electronic devices, which have increased the demand for rechargeable batteries which are afterward discarded before the end of its useful life. The main objective of this paper is to improve a methodology for classify the amount of NiMH and Li-Ion batteries discarded still in operating condition through concepts given to the cells. Tests with 3 NiMH and 3 Li-Ion different battery models were done. This paper also aimed to promote the efficient use of batteries cells through their reuse in academic activities related to the manufacturing of prototypes. It presents the construction of an illuminator and of a portable power supply. The results obtained showed that approximately 40% of NiMH cells and 45% of Li-Ion cells assessed were in operational condition, with charge capacity between 62% and 90%, when compared to a new cell. Such results warn about the waste of natural resources and the proposal to test the same before the final disposal. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.