The eWaste Coalition Is Now Accepting Lithium-Ion Batteries
We are pleased to announce that we have recently started working with a downstream vendor who processes Lithium-Ion batteries in an environmentally friendly manner. The process, which uses a water-based solution to break the batteries down into what is called a “black mass” produces battery-grade lithium, cobalt, and nickel which is then used to create new batteries.
How Do I Know If The Battery Is Lithium-Ion?
If the battery came from a laptop or a cell phone, chances are it’s Lithium-Ion. Just to be sure, the label should say on it somewhere either “Lithium-Ion”, “Li-ion”, or have a recycle logo with the word “Li-ion” below it.
How Do I Properly Handle My Battery If It Is Damaged or Bloated?
With lithium-ion batteries, you should proceed with extreme caution, so as to not puncture the battery when handling it or removing it from your device. Never pry at the battery with metal tools, or flex it in a swollen state. (A metal tool could pierce the outer skin and start a chemical reaction.) Should a reaction occur that causes a fire, DO NOT try and put it out with water! Lithium-ion battery fires are best handled with a foam extinguisher, CO2, ABC dry chemical, powder graphite, copper powder or sodium carbonate.
If you have an old battery from a cell phone, laptop, power tool, or any other device that runs off of a rechargeable li-ion battery you can now dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner by dropping them off at one of our collection locations. Please contact us to discuss your disposal needs.