How to Dispose of Lithium Batteries Safely at Work

To dispose of lithium batteries safely, never put them in general waste or mixed recycling. Tape or cover the terminals, store them in a cool, dry, fire-safe container away from combustible materials, keep damaged or swollen cells separate, and use a licensed carrier that transports them under dangerous goods rules to a permitted battery treatment facility. Keep the waste transfer note for every collection.

This guide is for the people who manage lithium batteries day to day: how to store them on site, how to spot a cell that is failing, what to do if one catches fire, and how waste lithium batteries must be moved. For background on why lithium causes so many fires in the waste stream, read our article on lithium battery fires at work.

Where lithium batteries turn up in a business

Most sites hold far more lithium than they realise. Common sources include:

• Laptops, tablets, phones and handheld scanners
• Cordless power tools and garden equipment
• Emergency lighting packs and fire alarm panels
• E-bikes, e-scooters and mobility aids
• Disposable and refillable vapes
• Barcode printers, card terminals and two-way radios
• Battery storage systems, UPS units and EV chargers

Two chemistries matter. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable. Lithium metal batteries are usually single use, such as coin cells and some long-life cells in meters and sensors. Both are dangerous goods for transport, so both need the same careful handling. Retailers and vape shops should also read our guide on how to dispose of vapes.

Why lithium batteries must never go in general waste

When a lithium cell is crushed, punctured or short-circuited, it can enter thermal runaway: the cell heats itself, vents flammable gas and can ignite neighbouring cells. Bin lorries and sorting plants compact waste, which is exactly the kind of damage that triggers it. Under the GOV.UK rules on waste segregation, businesses must also keep waste types separate, and the duty of care means you are responsible for your waste until it reaches the right site. Lithium batteries carry the non-hazardous waste code 16 06 05 when separately collected, but they still need a dedicated battery route.

Lithium battery storage: how to store lithium batteries at work

Good lithium battery storage is about preventing the three triggers of thermal runaway: short circuits, physical damage and heat. Build these controls into your process.

Choose the right location

• Cool, dry and ventilated, out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, boilers and hot processes.
• Away from combustible stock, packaging, paper and flammable liquids.
• Not on or next to an escape route, stairwell or fire exit.
• On a hard, non-combustible floor, ideally where a fire would be easy for the fire service to reach.

Use a fire-safe container

Store waste lithium batteries in a lidded, non-conductive container designed for battery storage. Fire-safe battery containers, typically steel or rigid boxes with a non-combustible fill such as vermiculite, help contain heat and stop a failing cell spreading to others. Never use a metal tin without insulation, as loose cells can short against it.

Prevent short circuits

• Cover terminals with non-conductive tape, or place each battery in its own clear plastic bag.
• Do not let loose batteries touch keys, coins, tools or each other.
• Leave batteries in their devices if they are sealed in, and do not try to cut them out.

Keep quantities and handling under control

• Set a limit for how many batteries can be stored at once and book collections before you reach it.
• Name a responsible person for the storage point and train staff on what goes in it.
• Label the container clearly and keep it closed.
• Stop charging devices you are about to dispose of, and never charge batteries in the waste store.
• Add battery storage to your fire risk assessment, which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires to be suitable and sufficient.

Damaged, swollen and defective lithium batteries

A damaged battery is the highest-risk item in your waste store. London Fire Brigade lists these warning signs of a failing battery:

• Extreme heat, beyond normal warmth during charging or use
• Swelling or a misshapen casing
• Lumps, leaking or physical damage to the casing
• Hissing or cracking sounds
• Strong chemical smells

If you find a battery showing these signs and it is safe to approach, follow this order:

1. Stop using the device, switch it off and unplug it.
2. Do not charge, press, puncture or try to repair the battery.
3. Move it, if it is cool and safe to do so, to a dedicated container for damaged batteries, separate from healthy ones, ideally surrounded by a non-combustible fill.
4. Keep it away from heat, water and combustible materials, and keep people away.
5. Tell your waste contractor it is damaged before collection. Damaged and defective lithium batteries must be packed and transported under stricter dangerous goods rules than intact ones.

If a lithium battery catches fire

Lithium battery fires can spread between cells, reignite after appearing to go out and give off toxic smoke. London Fire Brigade advice is clear: if a battery is smoking or on fire, get out, raise the alarm and call 999. Do not try to tackle the fire yourself. Make sure this is written into your fire procedures and that staff know where battery stores are, so they can tell the fire service on arrival.

Transport rules for waste lithium batteries

Lithium batteries are Class 9 dangerous goods. In England, Scotland and Wales, carriage by road is governed by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009, which apply the international ADR agreement. The basics every business should know:

• UN numbers. Lithium-ion batteries are UN 3480, or UN 3481 when packed with or contained in equipment. Lithium metal batteries are UN 3090 and UN 3091.
• Intact waste batteries sent for disposal or recycling can be carried under ADR provisions specific to waste lithium batteries, in approved packaging marked "LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR DISPOSAL" or "LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING".
• Damaged or defective batteries fall under separate, stricter provisions, with different packaging and the transport document marked accordingly. Batteries that could react dangerously in transport need the highest level of packaging.
• Trained people. Businesses that regularly transport dangerous goods must appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, and drivers need appropriate training.

For most businesses the practical answer is simple: do not move waste lithium batteries in your own vans unless you are sure you meet these rules. Use a licensed carrier with ADR-trained drivers, and tell them in advance how many batteries you have and whether any are damaged.

Paperwork for lithium battery disposal

• A waste transfer note for each collection, kept for two years. See our waste transfer note guide.
• A hazardous waste consignment note if lithium batteries are collected mixed with hazardous chemistries. Our guide to how to dispose of batteries sets out which types are hazardous.
• Checks that your carrier is registered and the receiving site is permitted to treat batteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lithium batteries go in general waste?

No. Lithium batteries must be kept out of general waste and mixed recycling. If they are crushed in a bin lorry or at a sorting site they can enter thermal runaway and start a fire.

How should lithium batteries be stored at work?

Store them in a lidded, non-conductive, fire-safe container in a cool, dry, ventilated area away from combustible materials and escape routes. Tape the terminals or bag each battery and keep quantities low by booking regular collections.

What are the signs a lithium battery is about to catch fire?

London Fire Brigade lists extreme heat, swelling or a misshapen casing, leaking or damage, hissing or cracking sounds and strong chemical smells. Stop using the device, isolate the battery if it is safe to do so and tell your waste contractor it is damaged.

What should I do if a lithium battery catches fire?

Get out, raise the alarm and call 999. Do not try to tackle a lithium battery fire yourself, because these fires can spread between cells, reignite and produce toxic smoke.

Are lithium batteries hazardous waste?

Separately collected lithium and lithium-ion batteries carry the non-hazardous waste code 16 06 05. They are still Class 9 dangerous goods for transport and must go through a licensed battery recycling route.

How Waste Experts handles lithium battery recycling

Waste Experts is an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) with its own permitted treatment facility at Kirkheaton, Huddersfield. We supply fire-safe containers for lithium battery storage, our ADR-trained drivers collect waste lithium batteries in compliant packaging, and lithium-ion is kept segregated from other chemistries throughout. If you have damaged or swollen batteries, let us know and we will advise the safest collection route.

We also handle the equipment lithium batteries come in, including IT equipment, power tools, vapes and battery energy storage systems. Every collection comes with Duty of Care documentation. Find out more about our battery recycling service.

Business customers only. Waste Experts collects from businesses and organisations, not households, and CEF branch drop-off is for business waste only. If you are getting rid of waste from your home, use your council's household waste recycling centre or a retailer take-back scheme instead.