UPS End of Life: Retire, Wipe, Recycle

A UPS has two parts with very different lifespans. The battery wears out on a schedule measured in a few years, and the electronics usually outlast several batteries. Retiring a UPS well means first deciding which part has actually reached the end, then handling each one correctly. For the battery-only case, see when to replace a UPS battery; this page covers the bigger decision and the disposal itself.

Battery swap or whole new UPS?

Valve-regulated lead-acid UPS batteries commonly last around 3 to 5 years in normal indoor conditions, less in warm rooms (see UPS battery lifespan). The electronics around them are generally designed for a much longer service life, but they age too: cooling fans wear, electrolytic capacitors dry out with heat, relays accumulate contact wear, and firmware stops receiving updates.

Signs the whole UPS should go

• It faults with a known-good battery. A new battery that still produces a replace-battery warning, an internal fault code or failed self-tests points to the charger or inverter.
• Burning smell, scorch marks or a hot case. Unplug it and stop. See UPS hot or burning smell.
• Swollen battery that was also very hot. Swelling is usually a battery problem, but repeated swelling across battery sets can indicate overcharging by the UPS. See swollen UPS battery.
• No replacement batteries or parts. Some consumer units use non-standard battery packs that are discontinued after some years.
• Unsupported network management firmware. A card with an old web server and no security updates is a liability on a modern network.
• Your load has outgrown it, or you now need a pure sine wave output the old unit cannot provide.

The cost comparison

For small consumer UPS units, a replacement battery can cost a substantial fraction of a new UPS, and a new unit brings a fresh warranty and often an equipment protection policy (see UPS warranties). For business-class line-interactive and online units, the hardware is more expensive and designed for multiple battery replacements, so the economics usually favor new batteries.

Before it leaves: wipe the network card

Desk UPS units with only a USB connection store little or nothing of value. Units with a network management card are different. Depending on the model, a card can hold:

• Administrator and user passwords, sometimes RADIUS or LDAP settings
• SNMP community strings or SNMPv3 credentials, which may be reused elsewhere on your network
• IP addresses, gateway, DNS and NTP servers, which map your network
• SMTP server, email credentials and alert recipient addresses
• TLS certificates and keys, and event logs with timestamps and hostnames

Use the card's reset-to-factory-defaults procedure, which on many cards is available from the web interface, the command line console or a recessed reset button. The exact method varies by manufacturer and card generation, so follow the card's user guide. Then try to log in with your old credentials to confirm the wipe worked. If you cannot reset it (for example the card is unresponsive), remove the card and destroy or keep it. Also rotate any SNMP community or email password that the card held, in case it was reused.

Removing the battery safely

Turn the UPS off, unplug it from the wall, and then remove the battery following the manual. Many units have a front or bottom battery door; some older consumer units require opening the case. Our battery replacement guide covers the mechanics.

• A 12 V battery cannot shock you meaningfully, but it can deliver hundreds of amps into a short circuit. Keep metal tools and jewelry away from the terminals.
• Larger units with series strings run at higher DC voltages (commonly 24 to 48 V in consumer and small business units, and much higher in large systems). Treat those as electrical work.
• Lead-acid batteries are heavy. A small 12 V 9 Ah battery weighs around 5 to 6 lb (about 2.5 kg); rack battery packs can weigh 60 lb (27 kg) or more. Lift accordingly.
• Look for swelling, cracks, leaking electrolyte or heat. A damaged battery changes how it should be handled and transported.

Recycling lead-acid UPS batteries

Most UPS batteries are sealed (valve-regulated) lead-acid. Lead-acid batteries are among the most thoroughly recycled consumer products in the US, because the lead and plastic are valuable and a well-established collection network already exists for car batteries. The US EPA advises recycling lead-acid batteries rather than discarding them, and many states prohibit putting them in household trash.

Where they are typically accepted

• Battery and auto parts retailers. Many states require retailers of lead-acid batteries to accept used ones. Small sealed batteries are not accepted everywhere, so call first.
• Call2Recycle drop-off sites. Call2Recycle runs a large North American battery collection network. Acceptance of small sealed lead-acid batteries, and any weight limits, depends on the program and location; check its locator.
• Household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities and collection days run by cities and counties.
• Scrap metal recyclers, some of which buy lead-acid batteries by weight.
• The seller of your replacement battery. Many battery vendors include a prepaid return or accept the old battery when you buy a new one.

For the battery-specific details, see UPS battery recycling.

Lithium UPS batteries need more care

Newer UPS units, and an increasing number of consumer models, use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) or other lithium chemistries (see lithium UPS pros and cons). Lithium cells are recyclable, but a damaged cell can short internally and catch fire, which is why recyclers and waste agencies treat them carefully.

• Tape the terminals or put each battery in its own plastic bag before transport.
• Never put lithium batteries in curbside recycling. Battery fires in collection trucks and sorting facilities are a recognized problem that the EPA has highlighted.
• Use a battery recycler, Call2Recycle drop-off or HHW site that accepts lithium batteries of that size. Large rack lithium packs may need to go back through the manufacturer or a commercial recycler.
• Damaged, swollen or hot lithium batteries should be isolated on a nonflammable surface away from combustibles, and you should call the recycler or HHW program for instructions before moving them.

Shipping and transporting batteries

Driving a few taped batteries to a drop-off site in your own car is straightforward: keep them upright, secured and out of the passenger compartment if possible. Shipping them is a different matter. Both lead-acid and lithium batteries are regulated for transport in the US under DOT hazardous materials rules, and carriers add their own restrictions.

• Nonspillable lead-acid batteries can often ship by ground under specific provisions that require short-circuit protection, secure packaging and particular markings.
• Lithium batteries have stricter rules, including limits on air shipment, and damaged or defective lithium batteries are subject to tight restrictions or prohibited on many services.
• Carrier rules differ and change. Check with the carrier, or use a recycler's prepaid kit, which is packaged to meet the requirements.
• When sending a whole UPS for repair or warranty return, the manufacturer's RMA instructions usually tell you whether to disconnect or remove the battery. Follow them exactly.

Recycling the electronics

Once the battery is out, the remaining UPS is circuit boards, a transformer, copper wiring, steel and plastic: ordinary e-waste. Many states have electronics recycling laws, and some ban electronics from landfill.

• Certified electronics recyclers holding R2 or e-Stewards certification follow recognized standards for handling and downstream processing.
• Manufacturer take-back or trade-in programs. Several UPS makers have offered take-back or trade-in schemes, especially for business units. Availability changes, so check the maker's site.
• Retailer electronics drop-off at some big-box stores, which may or may not accept items containing batteries.
• Municipal e-waste events and HHW facilities.

Most electronics recyclers prefer the battery removed. If you cannot remove it (some sealed consumer units), say so when you drop it off.

A short retirement checklist

1. Shut down and unplug. Turn off connected equipment and the UPS, then unplug it from the wall.
2. Wipe or remove the network card. Reset to factory defaults, verify, and rotate any shared credentials.
3. Remove the battery. Follow the manual and check for swelling, leaks or heat.
4. Tape terminals and pack upright. Each battery protected from short circuits, in a sturdy container.
5. Recycle the battery. Retailer take-back, Call2Recycle drop-off, HHW site or scrap recycler.
6. Recycle the chassis. Certified e-waste recycler or manufacturer program.
7. Close the paperwork. Remove the unit from monitoring software and, for businesses, record the disposal against the asset tag.

Outside the US

In the EU and UK, battery and electronic waste rules require take-back by retailers and producers in many cases, and UPS units fall under WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) collection. Retailers selling batteries commonly provide collection points. The handling advice above, especially taping terminals and isolating damaged lithium batteries, applies everywhere.