litihum Ion battery problem/Question -- Danger Will Robinson

I looked through the web; even called the local fire department, but have found no good answers.



Father-in-law died. Sorting through his belongings, found three flip phones in boxes. Never used. Three batteries that look like the one I (tried to) pasted above. One is swollen. They are the flat, small 3.8v batteries -- a few inches long, a few inches wide and -- what 1/4-inch thick?

I took them all outside and put on my gravel driveway. Quick web search says to put swollen in plastic bag with water or best a sand-filled metal container.

Having no sand or container, I put all three in in a ZipLoc with water, Then put the bag "in" an 8X8X16 concrete block and put another block lying down across the block with the batteries. Will this become a major blast with concrete flying everywhere?

Thinking NOW -- I should probably separate the "non_swollen" batteries from the swollen, just in case --so will do that.

So, as mentioned, I called local fire department. After being put on hold forever at the fire department, I was told to take the batteries to Home Depot as they recycle them. I said I doubt Home Depot will take a swollen battery and a bit surprised they would take anything other than alkaline. Fire folks insisted they would.

Called local "garbage" service. They hold hazardous waste collection days every three months -- just missed the one last weekend. Next one is August. They could not tell me if swollen batteries would be accepted.

I will probably look for a metal container. But any good tips?

How much of an explosion are you talking about from this little thing (it fits in a flip phone). Probably best to keep the damaged battery separate.

And thinking about it. How about a plastic container. If it is a real blast, plastic shards flying would be less danger than metal.

 

Yeah, sorry, Lithium-Ion.

 

Well, so everyone says...Just find it difficult to believe that swollen batteries (and now I notice it has a small leak) would be accepted. You type swollen lithium battery into Google and it sounds as if it rivals a nuke meltdown.

But I am going by Home Depot in the next day or two to hit my local chainsaw shop, so I will stop by.

Thanks, all.

 

Finally found Home Depot's details on batteries -- taken from their somewhat hidden details page on battery recycling -- so it won't work for me.

1. The Home Depot recycles the following batteries:
   • Any rechargeable battery that weighs up to 11 pounds and is under 300 watt hours
   • Auto/tractor batteries including rechargeable NiCad, rechargeable nickel, metal hydride, rechargeable lithium-ion, lithium single-use button, rechargeable small/sealed lead acid batteries
2. Non-leaking batteries can be dropped off in Call2Recycle bins at the store.
3. Place your batteries in the plastic bags provided and drop them in the bin.
4. There is no charge for recycling.

The Impact of Recycling
In 2022, The Home Depot recycled 180,000 lead-acid batteries.

The same year, we recycled 1,300,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries.