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How to Safely Handle a Swollen or Damaged Lithium-Ion Battery

Stop using and charging a swollen or damaged lithium-ion battery. Learn how to tell an emergency from a no-immediate-threat situation and arrange disposal without putting it in household rubbish or curbside recycling.
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If a lithium-ion battery is swollen or damaged, stop using and charging the device. If it is smoking, on fire, actively venting, or otherwise creating immediate danger, leave the area and call your local emergency number. If there is no immediate threat, do not tamper with it; contact the manufacturer and your local waste service for instructions before moving or disposing of it.

Check for warning signs

Warning signs include a swollen or misshapen battery; unusual heat; a chemical odor; leakage; cracks, dents, punctures or discoloration; and hissing, popping, crackling or smoke. Stop using and charging the device if you notice any of these signs. A battery can be hazardous even if it still powers the device or the swelling seems small: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies swelling as damage and a potential fire hazard. EPA guidance on lithium-ion batteries, Seattle Fire battery safety and the Oregon State Fire Marshal describe these hazards.

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Choose the right response: immediate danger or no immediate threat

Situation What to do
Smoke, fire, active venting or another immediate danger Leave the area, stay out and call your local emergency number from a safe place. Do not touch or move the battery or a burning device, breathe the fumes, or try to extinguish the fire yourself.
No smoke, fire or other immediate danger Keep the device off and unplugged if you can do so without touching or disturbing the damaged battery. Do not use, charge, puncture, crush or dismantle it. Contact the manufacturer and local waste service for directions.

Emergency numbers depend on your location: U.S. Fire Administration guidance is for the United States, where the emergency number is 911; West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue gives 999 for its area. Use the correct number where you are. USFA lithium-ion battery guidance and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue battery safety advise people to get out and call for emergency help. Seattle Fire advises closing the door while leaving if it is safe to do so. Seattle Fire battery safety

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If there is no immediate threat, do not handle or repair it

Do not try to flatten a swollen battery, open its case, remove it from the device, or make a puncture to release gas. Do not charge it or keep using the product. A damaged battery can be hazardous even when there is no smoke or fire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal and Health Canada warn against tampering with lithium-ion batteries.

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Contact the product or battery manufacturer or retailer and your municipality or local household hazardous-waste service. Explain that the battery is swollen or damaged and describe its condition. Follow the specific instructions they provide for your device and location.

Store or move it only if it is safe

While arranging disposal, the EPA advises keeping the damaged battery or device in a safe place away from flammable materials. Its guidance mentions a bucket containing a fire suppressant such as sand or kitty litter as one possible option. Seattle Fire describes moving a device outside into a metal container with a lid only when doing so is safe. These are conditional suggestions, not universal packaging or transport rules. EPA guidance; Seattle Fire guidance

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Do not attempt to move a battery or device that is hot, smoking, actively venting, leaking or otherwise an immediate danger. Leave the area and call emergency services instead.

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Confirm disposal instructions before taking it anywhere

Do not put a lithium-ion battery or a device containing one in household rubbish or ordinary curbside recycling. Contact the manufacturer or retailer and your local municipality, waste agency or household hazardous-waste program to identify the right route. Call the receiving site before setting out: a standard battery collection bin may not accept damaged batteries, and Oregon’s State Fire Marshal says a facility may require special instructions or may not accept one.

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The guidance cited here is specific to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and collection arrangements vary by location. Health Canada directs people to their municipality; the EPA and Oregon State Fire Marshal describe U.S. disposal routes. If you are elsewhere, contact your local waste authority. The sources do not establish one safe packaging or transport method that applies to every damaged battery, so follow the instructions from the facility that agrees to receive it.

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