Lithium Battery Storage and Disposal
How to store tool batteries safely, the warning signs to never ignore, and how to dispose of them properly in Australia.
Lithium-ion batteries are safe when they're looked after, but a damaged one can catch fire, and those fires are hard to put out. Good storage and proper disposal prevent most problems.
1. Storing batteries
- Store them somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sun. Don't leave them in a hot car or ute.
- Keep them away from anything flammable, and away from exits so a fire can't block your way out.
- Store them off the charger once they're full, unless the manufacturer says otherwise.
- For long storage, many manufacturers recommend storing a pack partly charged rather than full or flat. Check your manual.
- Check stored packs every few months so they don't drop too low.
- Keep loose batteries away from keys, coins and tools that could short the terminals.
2. Charging safely
- Use the manufacturer's charger for that battery.
- Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface, not on carpet, a bed or a couch.
- Don't charge a pack that's very hot or very cold.
- Avoid charging overnight or while you're out.
3. Warning signs to never ignore
Stop using and charging a battery straight away if it:
- Is swollen, cracked or leaking.
- Gets unusually hot, during charging or use.
- Smells sweet or chemical, hisses, pops or smokes.
- Has been dropped hard, crushed, punctured or got wet.
Move a warm or damaged battery outside, away from anything flammable, if you can do it safely. If it's smoking or on fire, get everyone out and call 000.
4. Disposing of batteries in Australia
- Never put lithium batteries in your household rubbish or recycling bin. They cause fires in bins, trucks and recycling centres.
- Take them to a battery drop-off point. Australia's B-cycle scheme lists drop-off points on its website, and many local council sites and some retailers also accept batteries.
- Tape over the terminals with clear sticky tape before you drop them off.
- Damaged or swollen batteries may need special handling. Ask your local council where to take them.
Not sure if a pack is finished? Work through Why Won't My Cordless Battery Charge? first.
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