[Sukotto]

A battery "swollen up to a point where I can't even close the laptop" is a serious fire/explosion hazard.

You should remove it from your laptop and safely dispose of it as soon as possible.

It does NOT go into regular garbage or recycle. Call your local recycle center (or the non-emergency number of your fire deptartment) to ask how your city handles laptop batteries.

[jrnichols]

Lowes and Home Depot will both take batteries for recycling.