what to do with an overheated/swollen Li-ion battery pack
twm47099
Posts: 867
My son had (as of 2 hours ago) an old Samsung Tablet (Tab-3). He was listening to music when the device got very hot. The back melted and the screen cracked. He got it outside and put it on some bricks away from the house and flooded it with water (the back had deformed enough that it came off the device. There was, thankfully, no fire.
He flooded the device for an hour, and everything cooled down, but the battery is swollen.
I called Samsung and after 45 minutes of silly questions and answers, they said to put it in a plastic bag, wrap with bubble wrap and throw it in the trash. Can't do that. On line I read things like drop it off at a store that recycles batteries (not going to do that) or take them to a hazmat center (none around here). I also called the fire dept, and they don't take them, although I thought they'd be good for training.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Tom
He flooded the device for an hour, and everything cooled down, but the battery is swollen.
I called Samsung and after 45 minutes of silly questions and answers, they said to put it in a plastic bag, wrap with bubble wrap and throw it in the trash. Can't do that. On line I read things like drop it off at a store that recycles batteries (not going to do that) or take them to a hazmat center (none around here). I also called the fire dept, and they don't take them, although I thought they'd be good for training.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Tom
Comments
The rules in your state may be different but here batteries are considered e-waste so they can no longer be just thrown in the trash.
I can dispose of batteries and light bulbs at my local Home Depot which has garbage-like containers next to the exit.
https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/
I discharged the battery as Tracy suggested and took it to my county's e-waste collection site.
Tom