Hello iFixit community,
I have a Google Pixel 2 with a swollen battery. I’m waiting for my toolkit to arrive so that I can remove it, but what do I do with the battery when it’s done? As I understand it, these things can be dangerous and can actually explode.
In the past, I’ve taken them to a battery recycling facility, but these are all closed due to Coronavirus. I called twelve of them near me and none of them are open.
I called my garbage disposal company and they said I am not permitted to throw it away nor are they doing hazardous pickups right now.
There are some websites that suggest soaking it in saltwater to dissipate the charge, but the general consensus is that this does not discharge the battery fully and it is still not safe enough to throw away and can still explode in a compactor.
What do I do with this battery? I don’t think it’s safe to keep in my home until the pandemic ends.