<p>The widespread use of portable batteries in household devices is leading to a growing environmental problem due to their toxic metal content and improper disposal. In developing countries, including post-Soviet states, collection and recycling systems for small-sized batteries (SSBs) remain fragmented, despite high public awareness of the environmental risks. The key problem lies in the persistent “knowledge-action paradox”, whereby high cognitive awareness of the dangers of improper disposal does not translate into widespread participation in environmentally responsible collection. A sociological survey of 404 Almaty residents revealed a critical gap: while 89.1% were aware of the dangers of SSBs, only 30.7% regularly used collection points. The study identified three key barriers to the transition from knowledge to action: infrastructural, behavioral, and informational. An analysis of sociodemographic factors revealed statistically significant, but weak, relationships between age, education level, and recycling practices. Despite differences between groups, the decisive factor in participation in the SSBs collection system is not demographics, but rather the accessibility and integration of infrastructure into the everyday urban environment. The results confirm the universality of the “knowledge-action” phenomenon, regardless of the level of economic development, and emphasize the need for a systems approach. Based on this, a priority environmental policy measure has been formulated: expanding the network of SSBs collection points in places of everyday activity: near residential buildings, in schools and universities, at transport hubs, and in shopping centers.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>