- A
Remove the battery and place it in the regular trash since it is not swollen.
Why wrong: Lithium-ion batteries are classified as hazardous waste and are banned from landfills in many areas. They can cause fires in waste facilities.
- B
Short the terminals to fully discharge the battery before disposal.
Why wrong: Shorting a lithium-ion battery can cause rapid discharge, overheating, and fire. This is extremely dangerous.
- C
Discharge the battery using a proper load, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler.
Safe discharge followed by certified recycling ensures environmental compliance and safety. This is the industry best practice.
- D
Store the battery in a metal container and return it to the manufacturer for disposal.
Why wrong: While storage in a metal container is safer, returning to the manufacturer is only one option. The key is to ensure it goes to a certified recycler; the manufacturer may do that, but the technician must verify proper disposal.
Quick Answer
The correct disposal procedure is to discharge the battery using a proper load, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler. This is required because lithium-ion batteries, even when not swollen, degrade chemically over time and can retain enough residual energy to cause a thermal runaway or fire if punctured or shorted during disposal. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your knowledge of environmental safety and hazardous material handling under Objective 4.5. A common trap is assuming a non-swollen battery is safe for standard e-waste or trash disposal, but the exam emphasizes that age alone makes lithium-ion cells a hazard. Remember the memory tip: “Discharge and Recycle—never trash a lithium stash.”
220-1102 Environmental Awareness and Impact Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of environmental awareness and impact. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is decommissioning a server that contains a lithium-ion battery backup module. The battery is not swollen but is several years old. What is the proper disposal procedure?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Discharge the battery using a proper load, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler.
Option C is correct because lithium-ion batteries, even if not visibly swollen, degrade over time and can still pose a fire or chemical hazard if improperly disposed. The proper procedure is to safely discharge the battery using a certified load to remove residual energy, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler to comply with environmental regulations and safety standards.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Remove the battery and place it in the regular trash since it is not swollen.
Why it's wrong here
Lithium-ion batteries are classified as hazardous waste and are banned from landfills in many areas. They can cause fires in waste facilities.
- ✗
Short the terminals to fully discharge the battery before disposal.
Why it's wrong here
Shorting a lithium-ion battery can cause rapid discharge, overheating, and fire. This is extremely dangerous.
- ✓
Discharge the battery using a proper load, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler.
Why this is correct
Safe discharge followed by certified recycling ensures environmental compliance and safety. This is the industry best practice.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store the battery in a metal container and return it to the manufacturer for disposal.
Why it's wrong here
While storage in a metal container is safer, returning to the manufacturer is only one option. The key is to ensure it goes to a certified recycler; the manufacturer may do that, but the technician must verify proper disposal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a battery that is not swollen is safe for regular disposal, when in fact all lithium-ion batteries require special handling due to residual energy and chemical hazards.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lithium-ion batteries contain a flammable electrolyte and can enter thermal runaway if shorted or punctured, even when aged. Certified recyclers use specialized equipment to safely extract lithium, cobalt, and other materials, preventing environmental contamination and enabling resource recovery. In real-world scenarios, data centers often use battery management systems (BMS) to monitor state of charge; technicians should follow manufacturer discharge protocols (e.g., using a resistor bank) before removal.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Environmental Awareness and Impact — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Environmental Awareness and Impact — This question tests Environmental Awareness and Impact — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Discharge the battery using a proper load, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler. — Option C is correct because lithium-ion batteries, even if not visibly swollen, degrade over time and can still pose a fire or chemical hazard if improperly disposed. The proper procedure is to safely discharge the battery using a certified load to remove residual energy, then recycle it through a certified lithium battery recycler to comply with environmental regulations and safety standards.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.
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