Khaberni - The German Institute for Damage Prevention warns against keeping an old smartphone in a drawer for years; as the lithium-ion battery may be a fire hazard.
The Institute elaborates that deterioration resulting from aging, heat, and frost can cause significant damage to the battery cells, which may lead to a fire.
To avoid this, lithium-ion batteries should be stored properly, as follows:
- Lithium-ion batteries should be stored with a charge level ranging between 40 and 60% of their capacity, and the surrounding temperature should range from 0 to 45 degrees Celsius and be dry.
- Regularly check the battery's charge level and recharge it when necessary; this prevents the battery from being fully depleted, which could damage it.
- Charge the battery and store it on non-flammable surfaces, and keep it away from other flammable materials.
In general, electrical and electronic devices equipped with lithium-ion batteries should not be disposed of with regular household waste; because the raw materials contained within are extremely valuable and should not be wasted. Furthermore, batteries may increase the risk of a fire hazard during waste processing, putting individuals and machinery at risk.
Therefore, it is best to hand over electrical and electronic devices equipped with a lithium-ion battery to recycling centers.
