How to Dispose of a Swollen or Expanded Lithium-ion Battery

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Safely throw away a damaged phone battery with this easy guide
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If your cell phone battery has swollen, you may be unsure how to deal with the issue. Luckily, with some careful handling and disposal, you can get rid of swollen batteries safely and fairly easily. Carefully remove the swollen battery and take it to an e-waste center or computer repair store for proper disposal. Take precautions when handling a swollen battery. Swollen batteries are hazardous and should be handled with care.

Getting Rid of a Swollen Cell Phone Battery

Never put a swollen battery in the garbage or recycling. Bring the battery to an e-waste recycling center, an electronics store, or a tech repair store. If you can remove the battery, do so carefully while wearing goggles and gloves. If the battery won't come out, don't force it—you could puncture the battery, leading to injury or a fire.

Section 1 of 3:

Disposing of the Battery

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  1. A lithium battery is considered hazardous waste. It should not be discarded in a dumpster or in a garbage bin in your home. A swollen battery is an environmental hazard and dangerous to sanitation workers. [1]
  2. Search online for electronic waste centers in your area. These are centers that can safely dispose of hazardous electronic wastes, including swollen batteries. [2]
    • If you're struggling to find an e-waste center online, contact your city's hazardous materials disposal center for guidance.
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  3. If you can't find an e-waste center, check with a computer repair or supply store. Apple stores and outlets like Best Buy often encounter faulty materials at work. They may have safe means for disposing swollen batteries at their facilities.
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Section 2 of 3:

Removing a Swollen Battery

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  1. As soon as you notice the swollen battery, turn your device off and do not charge it. Even if the battery still appears to be working, charging and using it could be dangerous. [3]
  2. If the battery is extremely hot or smells bad, do not attempt to remove the battery on your own. If the battery is smoking, remove any flammable items nearby and clear out any people or pets in the area. Do not breathe in battery fumes, as they are toxic and can cause injury.
  3. If your battery is removable, carefully take the swollen battery out of your cell phone. Make sure to handle the battery very gently and slowly to avoid puncturing it, which could cause a fire. [4]
    • Wear gloves or goggles when handling the battery to avoid injury.
  4. If the swollen battery does not come out easily, stop what you are doing. Take your cellphone to a local repair shop or electronics supply store, such as Best Buy, to have it removed by professionals. Trying to force out a swollen battery that's stuck in an electronic device can cause the battery to become punctured, which is a serious safety hazard. [5]
    • You should also take the battery to professionals if it is not removable or if you don't know how to remove it.
  5. If you can't remove the battery from the device, place the entire device in the fireproof container for transport to a professional who can remove it and/or dispose of it.
    • If you don't have a dedicated fireproof container for Li-ion batteries, put the battery/device in a metal container and cover it with sand, if possible. Do not put the battery in a container that can melt or burn (such as plastic or wood).
    • The sand will smother any flames if the battery does catch on fire.
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Section 3 of 3:

Taking Safety Precautions

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  1. Freezing temperatures will not put a swollen battery in stasis. In fact, it could actually lead to the battery lighting on fire when it might not have originally. When cold, metal will contract, and this could lead to the metal components inside the battery to short out. [6]
  2. If you puncture your battery while removing it or notice any discharge that may indicate a puncture, call a professional repair technician right away. If you don't have any repair shops nearby, you can try calling a Best Buy, Apple Store, or other tech retailer for suggestions. Punctured batteries can explode and cause fire hazards, so they should not be handled without professional help.
  3. If you notice your battery is swollen, unplug your device if it's plugged in, and immediately remove the battery. You should never charge a swollen battery as this could result in an explosion. [7]
  4. Many areas have electronic recycling centers that accept old electronic supplies for recycling. While you may prefer to recycle your waste, unfortunately, swollen batteries are not safe to recycle as they cannot be reused. [8]
  5. Be extremely cautious when handling swollen batteries. Never handle batteries with sharp objects, as you risk puncturing the batteries. Never try to force a swollen battery out of a device if it's stuck. If you're unsure how to remove a swollen battery, err on the side of caution and seek help from a professional.
  6. If you have a fire extinguisher, you can use it to extinguish the fire. You can also cover the fire with sand to smother the flames, douse it in a lot of water to put out the fire, or cover it with a fireproof container (like a metal box) to contain the flames. [9]
    • If you aren't comfortable handling the fire on your own or the fire is too big to deal with alone, call 911 (or your country's emergency number) and report the fire so the fire department can extinguish it and prevent it from getting worse.
    • If the fire isn't large, you can use a fireproof instrument (like a metal spatula) to move the device or battery to a fireproof surface (like a metal baking sheet or a concrete floor). If possible, transport the fire outside where it can burn off.
    • Never linger around a Li-ion battery fire longer than you have to. The battery can explode, which can cause injury if you're hit by parts of the battery or battery acid.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries
      2. ↑ https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/batteries.html
      3. ↑ https://www.asurion.com/connect/tech-tips/swollen-battery-in-your-phone-or-laptop-how-to-detect-and-prevent/
      4. ↑ https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/smartphone-swollen-battery
      5. ↑ https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/smartphone-swollen-battery
      6. ↑ https://superuser.com/questions/1104271/how-to-safely-store-a-defective-bulging-lithium-ion-battery
      7. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/What_to_do_with_a_swollen_battery
      8. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/What_to_do_with_a_swollen_battery
      9. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/What_to_do_with_a_swollen_battery

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