What Do I Do With An Old Car Battery?

I’ve got this old car battery I need to get rid of. I would throw it in the trash, but I don’t think you’re supposed to put car batteries in there, because it could explode and hurt a garbage man. There’s a pretty big river near here, as well as some ponds. Is it better to toss it into one of those, or leave it in a forest somewhere? If you know please help!