Lithium batteries pose a fire hazard, even when they are no longer useful in consumer equipment/products. Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries have greater potential than undamaged lithium batteries to short circuit, to release heat, or even to cause a fire. Anyone who offers a used lithium battery for disposal or recycling must, in addition to ensuring the terminals are protected to prevent short circuiting, fully assess the potential for fire hazards in shipping.
The Safety Advisory Notice discusses the essential requirements for preparing packages of used batteries for disposal or recycling and highlights additional resources for further information.
The Safety Advisory Notice can be viewed in its entirety at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/safety-advisory-notice-transportation-lithium-batteries-disposal-or-recycling.
Additional DOT Resources for Recyclers/Collection Operators/Transporters:
Lithium Battery Guide for Shippers
Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar – Safe Transportation of Lithium Batteries: What You Need to Know in 2021
OSHA Information
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains a website dedicated to battery disposal resources: https://www.osha.gov/green-jobs/recycling/batteries
EPA Information
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations apply to end-of-life lithium ion batteries under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In May 2023, EPA issued a memo to clarify how the hazardous waste regulations for universal waste and recycling apply to lithium ion batteries: https://rcrapublic.epa.gov/rcraonline/details.xhtml?rcra=14957. In addition, EPA maintains a website dedicated to battery disposal resources: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-lithium-ion-batteries, as well as a list of frequently asked questions for household batteries: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries.
Private Individuals and Households
Private individuals should dispose of household lithium batteries via appropriate recycling channels and should never place lithium batteries in the trash or general recycling due to safety concerns. Electronics recyclers or scrap/collection centers in your area can be found online. Certain grocery, home improvement, big box retail, and consumer electronics stores offer lithium battery recycling services. In addition, your local solid waste district may offer a lithium battery collection program or host regular collection events. The manufacturer of your electronic may also offer a mail-in program. Should you utilize a mail-in program, you must comply with all USPS (for USPS mail shipments) or DOT (for shipments with other carriers) requirements. The organizer of your mail-in program should provide you with the guidelines to ship in compliance with USPS and/or DOT requirements.
You can refer to the EPA's webpage dedicated to household batteries for more information and for tips on locating appropriate recycling channels in your area: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries
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