Where to Recycle LiPo Batteries - Disposal and Recycling

Lithium Polymer batteries are known as LiPo batteries. LiPo batteries are now used in various kinds of electronic devices. This type of battery has gained a respectful reputation in industries radio control and others. They are now very popular with customers who are looking for long-lasting batteries. Many people think that LiPo batteries are a danger for the user. But the manufacturers and studies confirmed that as long as you follow all the guidelines and rules of use, you will not face any danger.

How do you dispose of lipo batteries?

LiPo batteries are extremely dangerous if you don't handle them with respect and caution. These batteries can cause fire and even an explosion can be caused by them. In this part of the article, we will show you how do you dispose of lipo batteries?

3.2V 20A Low Temp LiFePO4 Battery Cell -40℃ 3C discharge capacity≥70% Charging temperature：-20~45℃ Discharging temperature: -40~+55℃ pass acupuncture test -40℃ maximum discharge rate：3C

READ MORE

While you are disposing of a LiPo battery, you should discharge to 0 volts. This will prevent them from bursting into flames while they are being punctured. Then you can bring them to the battery recycling factory.

Please follow the below steps.

LiPo Charger

The LiPo charger is capable of discharging your battery. You discharge the battery at a small current for safety reasons. For example, for a 2000mAh 50C battery, the discharge rate should be at 0.2A.

But almost every LiPo charger contains a cut-off voltage of 3V. This feature will not let you discharge the battery after it reaches 3V per cell. It happens for the reason that the charger is designed to work with the batteries at their safe voltage range. If this happens to you, you should consider trying some other methods to discharge your battery.

Low Temperature High Energy Density Rugged Laptop Polymer Battery Battery specification: 11.1V 7800mAh -40℃ 0.2C discharge capacity ≥80% Dustproof, resistance to dropping, anti - corrosion, anti - electromagnetic interference

READ MORE

Salt Water

This method is not one of the most recommended methods. It's because this method is too slow and sometimes ineffective.

Saltwater is conductive and can discharge your LiPo Battery. The saltwater creates some chemist reaction with the battery and it neutralizes the lithium in the battery. But it will not completely discharge your battery.

Light Bulb

This method is so popular when it comes to discharging your LiPo battery because it is fast and cheap. Try to avoid an LED bulb from using in this method. LED bulb stops discharging at a level and leaves behind a small amount of charge in your battery. You can use a Halogen bulb in this method. A halogen bulb is way more effective than any other method.

You can also use any kind of resistive load instead of a light bulb.

Can you recycle LiPo batteries?

Battery recycling is an activity that intends to decrease the number of batteries being disposed of as municipal fixed waste. Batteries comprise of several substantial metals and toxic chemicals and disposing of them by the same method as conventional trash has raised concerns over soil contamination and water pollution.

So, yes you can recycle your LiPo batteries.

Where do you dispose of a swollen battery?

You can recycle your LiPo battery by following the guideline mentioned below.

LiPo batteries contain useful high-grade metals like copper and aluminum among others. It also contains some rare earth materials like cobalt and nickel. By recycling LiPo batteries people can prevent a future shortage of these high-grade and rare earth materials. These processes can gain cobalt, nickel, copper, and aluminum as well as loads of lithium. Today's recycling processes can recover from 25% TO 96% of the materials from batteries. The recovering percentage depends on the technology used. 

Steps you need to follow:

" Discharge the LiPo battery.

" Disassemble the battery systems.

" Mechanical processes like crushing, sorting, and sieving.

" Electrolyte recovery.

" Hydrometallurgical processes.

" Pyrometallurgical processes.

Some specific dangers are associated with LiPo battery recycling processes. Those are; 

1. Electrical dangers,

2. Chemical dangers,

3. Burning reactions,

4. Also some potential interactions of burning reactions.

The LiPo battery will react sensitively if it touches any water. It's because it contains hydrofluoric acid. Pouch cells are especially more effortless to recycle in this way and some people already do this to retrieve the copper notwithstanding the safety issues. As of 2019, the recycling of LiPo batteries, in general, does not remove lithium since lithium-ion battery technology continuously improves and processes to recycle these batteries can thus be outdated in a couple of years.

Battery Recycling Areas

There are plenty of batteries recycling plants in different parts of the world. We mentioned a few below for your information.

European Union

The Europian Union passed the Battery Directive in 2006. It's one of the aims is to gain a higher rate of battery recycling. The EU directive states that 25% of used batteries must be collected by 2012. They have achieved that goal.

Channel Islands

In 2009 Germany set up the Longue Hougue recycling facility, which, among other functions, offers a drop-off point for used batteries so they can be recycled off-island. That initiative resulted in publicity so good that a lot of people complied with the call to dispose of batteries responsibly.

United Kingdon

The non-government body of the United Kingdom conducted trial battery recycling from April 2006 to March 2008 around the UK. The kerbside trials received the most battery mass and were the most well-received and appreciated by the public. The community drop-off receptacles which were spread around local community areas were also moderately successful in terms of the mass of batteries collected. The lowest-performing were the hospital and fire service trials although these served their purpose very well for technoscientific battery types like hearing aid and smoke alarm batteries. Retail drop off trials was the second most effective by volume trial but one of the least well-received and used by the public.

There are many more battery recycling points around the world. You can find your nearest battery by researching on the internet. 

We hope that this article helped with all of your questions regarding Where to recycle LiPo batteries - disposal and recycling.