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The material composition, or “chemistry,” of a battery is tailored to its intended use. You can reduce the environmental impact of electronics that are powered by Li-ion batteries at the end of their useful life through the reuse, donation and recycling of the products that contained them. It also prevents batteries from being sent to facilities that are not equipped to safely manage them and where they could become a fire hazard. Recycling the batteries avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
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When a battery is thrown away, we lose those resources outright-they can never be recovered. Li-ion batteries contain some materials such as cobalt and lithium that are considered critical minerals and require energy to mine and manufacture. Reusing and recycling Li-ion batteries helps conserve natural resources by reducing the need for virgin materials and reducing the energy and pollution associated with making new products. Why is recycling Li-ion batteries important? It is important to note that the chasing arrow symbol (i.e., three arrows forming a triangle) on Li-ion batteries means you can recycle these batteries at specialized battery recyclers it does NOT mean you can put Li-ion batteries in the municipal/household recycling bin. When this happens, the batteries can become damaged or crushed during processing and may become a fire hazard. When Li-ion batteries or the devices that contain them are mistakenly put into the municipal recycling bin, they will end up at a municipal recovery facility (MRF) that is typically equipped to recycle only household paper, plastic, metal and glass. Why shouldn’t Li-ion batteries be put in the municipal or household recycling bin? There may also be symbols or icons that state the chemistry or the chasing arrow symbol with the words “Li-ion” below it. The battery or device may list its chemistry on the battery’s case, instruction manuals, or product markings.
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How can I identify what products have Li-ion batteries in them? Alternatively, placing each battery in its own plastic bag also isolates the terminals.
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Electrical tape is preferred, but all adhesive tapes not made of metallic material will work. To prevent fires, which can happen if batteries come in contact with each other or with other metals, EPA recommends taping the battery terminals (or connections) with non-conductive tape. What should I do to make my batteries safe to bring to a recycling facility? Instead, Li-ion batteries should be taken to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points. They can cause fires during transport or at landfills and recyclers. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and devices containing these batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. How should I dispose of lithium-ion batteries? My computer has a battery that has swelled-what should I do with it?.What are the storage requirements when not using Li-ion batteries?.What materials do specialized battery recyclers recover from Li-ion batteries?.What materials are in Li-ion batteries?.Why is recycling Li-ion batteries important?.Why shouldn’t Li-ion batteries be put in the municipal or household recycling bin?.How can I identify what products have Li-ion batteries in them?.What should I do to make my batteries safe to bring to a recycling facility?.How should I dispose of lithium-ion batteries?.Learn more about used lithium-ion batteries.
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