Guide to correct disposal of lithium battery: from individual to industry

What are lithium-ion batteries

Batteries that are discarded once depleted are commonly referred to as primary batteries, while those that can be recharged once depleted are known as secondary batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are a kind of secondary battery that is charged and discharges when lithium ions move between the positive (cathodes) and negative (anodes) plates of the battery. Lithium-ion batteries are preferred in the electronics field because of their suitability in storing high-capacity power. Moreover, they can be found in a wide range of consumer electronics, including phones, industrial robots, PCs, laptops, and even automobiles.

Within lithium-ion batteries are recyclable materials. These materials are valuable metal compounds such as copper, aluminium, and ferrous metals. Moreover, batteries also have graphite and plastics that are recyclable.

How does one recognize a lithium-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries usually have the word ‘li-ion’ written as their identification mark, which can either be inscribed on the battery’s surface or written on the sticker on the surface of the battery.

It is likely that every rechargeable battery in any consumer electronic product is likely made from lithium-ions. These batteries are preferred because they usually tend to have higher energy densities than other batteries; hence, they keep more power. They also have higher voltage capacity and lower self-discharge rates than other secondary batteries. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries are found in almost everything that uses rechargeable batteries, including electric cars, because of their better power efficiency.

Why should one be mindful when disposing of lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are composed of several chemicals. When lithium-ion battery disposal is not done properly, these batteries can have significant consequences on the environment. Moreover, disposing of them improperly can lead to material loss, which is of significance to the electronics industry. Next, lithium-ion batteries are also highly reactive and can be difficult to control.

For instance, external factors such as high charging voltage, high temperature, strain, and short circuits can easily cause an exothermic reaction in the battery, causing the battery to catch fire. Also, lithium-ion batteries are made from thin shits of polypropylene that acts as a barrier between the electrodes. When the battery is punctured or crushed, the battery’s thermal process could be initiated, resulting in a fire. For this reason, countries on the transportation of shipping lithium batteries products most airlines do not allow lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage.

The do’s and don’t while processing lithium-ion batteries for disposal.
One should ensure that the batteries are removed from the electronic device and kept separately before lithium-ion battery disposal. Next, some electronic gadgets such as modern smartphones have inbuilt batteries that can be quite difficult to remove.

When industrially processing batteries for proper disposal, EU legislation requires that persons with appropriate permits remove this hard to remove batteries. Also, one should insulate battery terminals to prevent instances of short-circuiting.

Lithium-ion batteries disposal never be done with regular waste. Moreover, these batteries should never be crushed, punctured, thrown away or done to anything that could result in the electrodes coming into contact. Mixing together the damaged and undamaged batteries is not recommended. Discarded batteries should be kept in outside spaces because these batteries are highly volatile and can easily start a fire.

Lithium battery disposal has always been a challenge due to several reasons. First, it is difficult to remove lithium-ion batteries in most cases because these are often bonded to electronic hardware. Therefore, the batteries have to be removed by professionals. Also, it is easy to damage the batteries during the dismantling process, which calls for specialized tools, processes, and controls. Several fires can be associated with lithium-ion battery disposal due to their high-temperature exothermic reaction properties. Hence, it is advisable to discharge high capacity lithium-ion batteries before dismantling to reduce the risks of them starting a fire.

The do and don’t while processing lithium-ion batteries for disposal

When engaging in the process of lithium-ion battery disposal, consumers should know that they are recyclable materials. However, these are only recyclable at licenced recycling facilities.

Consumers who dispose of lithium-ion batteries or electronics with the batteries still attached to their hardware need to dispose of the waste at e-waste collection points. Moreover, some cities are lucky enough to have battery-recycling drop off points. Consumers could also try to discharge the batteries first before disposing of.

How should consumers dispose of lithium ion batteries

Lithium-ion battery disposal in industries should start by ensuring that the batteries are not exposed to prolonged sunlight or high temperature. Moreover, the batteries should not be exposed to humidity or water, which could damage them. The batteries should be handled with special care to ensure that they are not crushed or punctured until they reach the destinated recycling facility.

It is also recommended that the casing holding the batteries should not be damaged, which is specifically useful when the batteries are stacked on one another. What’s more, the stacked batteries should have a protective layer placed between them and heavy objects.

The procedure of lithium-ion battery disposal in industries should also ensure that the cores of the battery never come into direct contact. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that the batteries are satisfactorily discharged before they are handled for further processing; failure to discharge the batteries may cause them to rupture, catch fire, and explode.

For added safety, lithium-ion batteries with no protective casings should be sorted separately and handled with further care. When packing undamaged batteries, contacts should first be checked for separation. Next, in no way should the batteries be covered in plastic bags, and the batteries should be transported in UN-approved barrels.(a 400kg pallet box or a 200L barrel).

For damaged batteries, the procedure is almost similar, the first step is removing attached wires.

However, damaged batteries can be placed in a plastic bag or clear plastic foil, after which they can be transported in the above-mentioned UN-approved barrels. Needless to say, damaged batteries should never be mixed with non-damaged ones, and each category should have its separate transportation barrel.