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Ni-MH batteries can give years of safe and reliable service if they are used in accordance with recommended procedures and are not abused. Batteries should be kept clean and dry both during use and storage. They can be stored for many months in a charged or discharged state without any detrimental effects as long as they are not exposed to extreme temperatures for any long period of time. After periods during which the battery has not been used, the battery should be charged before being placed in service. Extended overcharging or overheating of the battery should always be avoided.
Care and Handling
- Disassembly: The battery should never be disassembled, opened or shredded under any conditions - high short circuit currents and fire could result.
- Handling: Batteries should not be dropped or subjected to strong mechanical shock.
- High temperature/fire: Never subject a battery to heat or dispose of it in a fire - the battery can explode, leak or burn.
- Vented battery compartments: It is possible that cells may vent if the battery is overcharged or otherwise abused. Caution should be exercised to prevent vented hydrogen gas from collecting in the battery or equipment.
- Severe use applications: Short-term use of Ni-MH batteries outside of specified ranges may be possible. Please consult Duracell if such a requirement exists.
Transportation
The Ni-MH battery supplied by Duracell is recognized by regulatory agencies as a "dry battery" and can be shipped in normal packaging and transported without special handling.
Waste Management: Recycling and Disposal
The U.S EPA has not provided specific guidelines for the disposal of Ni-MH batteries. In the absence of specific regulations, the following suggested procedures are recommended for handling Ni-MH batteries:
- Duracell encourages battery recycling. For information on recycling DURACELL Ni-MH rechargeable batteries, please contact your nearest Duracell office or in North America, call 800-551-2355.
- Batteries may be disposed of with other household wastes when used in a household environment.
- In commercial settings, when 10 or more batteries need to be disposed of, the user may want to consider disposing of the batteries in a secure waste landfill. Since these batteries are not classified as hazardous waste, they may be shipped to the secure waste facility as "non-hazardous waste."
- Local regulations should always be consulted concerning disposal of battery materials since these regulations may supersede the recommendations discussed.
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