here, there is a box in every grocery store (and many other places as well) where you can put used batteries to be "disposed of properly".
when you buy an electronic device, you pay a very slight "eco" tax (it's usually only a few centimes ; when i bought a refrigerator a couple of years ago i think it might have been about 13€. it shows on the receipt.) which is meant to finance the recycling of it later.
stores which sell electronic devices are obligated to accept old ones to be recycled when you purchase a new one, for no fee. if you have a large item (refrigerator) or several things (like a company getting rid of old computers) you call the city hall and make an appointment for a pickup.
i've never had to do this myself, because so far i've never had an electronic device i couldn't get rid of through some organisation which recuperated them to be rehabilitated (there are lots), or through freecycle ; even my ancient trium telephone whose sim card reader got all
was wanted by someone.
despite this though there are many people who don't know or care how to recycle their electronic equipement and don't make the (very slight) effort to find out.