Battery Safety

All batteries are recycled at UVM. Batteries are required to be disposed of as Universal Waste or as anBatteries: Basic Safety Practices
Use the correct size and type of battery specified for your device.
Use the correct battery charger specified by the manufacturer.
Never re-charge batteries overnight or unatte

Batteries: Basic Safety Practices

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  • Use the correct size and type of battery specified for your device.
  • Use the correct battery charger specified by the manufacturer. 
  • Never re-charge batteries overnight or unattended; ensure there is proper ventilation to charge batteries safely. 
  • Download and review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the battery you will be using. The battery manufacturer is required to provide an SDS to you. Review and understand the hazards of the battery, how to properly store and charge it, and how to safely put out a fire for the specific battery. This information is listed on the SDS.
  • Be prepared: Check that the type of fire extinguisher in your area can extinguish a potential battery fire of the batteries with which you are using.
  • Contact UVM Service Operations if you need the UVM Life Safety team to help you determine which fire extinguisher is appropriate.

Battery Buckets and Techno Trash Outlets

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Brown battery buckets and Techno-trash outlets are scattered throughout offices and high traffic areas on campus for the collection of assorted batteries. These campus battery collection areas are for UVM-generated batteries only. If you would like to request a battery bucket for your office area, contact UVM Recycling. 

Note: Never bring personal batteries to UVM from home. Take household-generated batteries to your local Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) drop off location or to a hazardous waste collection day.

Safe Charging of Batteries

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  • Never charge a battery overnight or unattended.
  • Use only the charger recommended by the battery manufacturer.
  • Remove combustible materials, such as paper, wood and cardboard, from battery-charging areas.
  • Batteries should be charged on non-combustible surfaces such as cement, steel, ceramic or stone. Wooden tables, workbenches, paper and carpeted floors are NOT safe charging surfaces.
  • Never leave a battery in the charger once it is fully charged; overcharging of batteries will not increase the performance and can lead to damage, such as swelling and rupture. 
  • Never charge a battery which has been physically dropped or damaged. An unseen fracture in the encasement can cause the battery to catch fire or explode while charging.

UVM Battery Disposal Procedure

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Full Battery Buckets

Email waste@uvm.edu if you have a full assorted battery bucket removed or emptied.

Techno-Trash Bin is Full

  • If the techno trash bin containing Electronic-waste (E-waste) and lightbulbs in your area is full, please contact UVM Recycling to pick up these materials.

Specific Battery Types

Alkaline Batteries

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  • Never refrigerate alkaline batteries. It is a myth that this makes them last longer.
  • Keep alkaline battery contact surfaces and battery compartment contacts clean by storing them in the packaging that they came in or rub them with a clean pencil eraser or a rough cloth before you replace batteries.
  • Remove alkaline batteries from a device when it is not expected to be in used for several months.

Lithium Batteries

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MIT has a very detailed guidance document (PDF) regarding the safe use and storage of lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries.  The intent of the guideline is to provide users of lithium-ion (Li-ion) and lithium polymer (LiPo) cells and battery packs with enough information to safety handle them under normal and emergency conditions.

Caution must be taken in Li-ion battery storage, use, management, and disposal due to the potential for fire and injury if these batteries are misused or damaged. There
have been several incidents at MIT and other universities involving Li-ion and LiPo batteries. At MIT these incidents were related to batteries left on chargers for
extended times, unattended charging, incompatible chargers, cheap knock-off batteries and shorts from improperly wired or isolated connections.

  • If lithium cells are abused and not used for their intended purpose, catastrophic results may occur, such as: first-, second-, and third-degree burns, respiratory problems, fires, explosions, and even death. Please handle the lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries with utmost care and respect.
  • Download the information about Lithium Polymer batteries (PDF)
  • Cell phones, laptop computers, GPS systems, iPods, and even cars are now using lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology.
  • Custom-built battery packs come with increased risks. Anyone building, storing or charging battery packs are required to have a high hazard assessment by Safety staff. Written safety procedures and documented emergency procedures must be in place before use.

Charging Lithium Batteries

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  • LipoSacks are a newly marketed item that may reduce the risk of a lithium battery fire. Not all LiPo Sacks are created equal! They may prevent a fire, but it will not eliminate smoke should the battery catch fire or overheat while charging.
  • As with any battery, never charge a lithium battery overnight or unattended. Lithium batteries have been known to overheat without much warning, especially if they have been dropped or if the outer encasement is unknowingly cracked. Contact Safety staff to schedule a Hazard Assessment.

Lead Acid Batteries

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  • Increased ventilation is necessary when storing or charging large amounts of lead acid batteries. Contact Safety staff if you would like to schedule a hazard assessment.
  • Contact waste@uvm.edu if you have large lead acid batteries for pickup and disposal.

Additional information about Safe Charging of Lead Acid Batteries.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) Batteries

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  • Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries self-discharge at a faster rate than alkaline batteries. At typical room temperature (~70 degrees F) NiMH and NiCd batteries will self-discharge a few percent per day.
  • Storing NiCd batteries at cooler temperatures will slow their self-discharge rate dramatically and reduce how much they self-discharge.
  • NiMH batteries stored at freezing temperatures will retain over 90% of their charge for full month. Bring the batteries back to room temperature before using them.

Store in a secondary container and label and date them appropriately.