Improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries is a leading cause of fires.
Firefighters warn the public that tossing everyday items containing these batteries into trash and recycling bins is becoming a national disaster.
What’s going on?
As reported by the BBC, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been issuing warnings about the dangers of improperly placing battery-powered items in recycling bins.
In one community, the department attached approximately 85 tons (94 tons) of discarded electronics in a manner that caused 46 fires in the waste sorting area, and five fires in garbage trucks. Dangers arise when waste companies collect household bins that contain batteries and recycle waste, lithium-ion batteries in the process.
The Fire Department said these fires were preventable and diverted resources from other unavoidable emergencies.
“They can quickly burst into flames because of the chemicals inside them,” said the regional manager of the Department of the Assistant, David Burland, via the BBC.
Why are lithium-ion battery fires important?
Lithium-Ion batteries are ubiquitous today, powering everything from vape pens to power tools. Although small, these high-energy, powerful batteries can start fires while releasing gas and shrapnel when they explode.
However, these types of batteries are important for a clean energy transition because they enable energy storage from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Lithium-Ion batteries are also used in electric vehicles and grid battery storage systems, which are important for reducing transportation pollution and making renewable energy a reliable 24/7 solution.
However, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries put people and property at risk, and people have died from catastrophic battery failures.
What is done to prevent battery fires?
West Yorkshire Fire Department is launching a campaign with the City Council and Local Pollution Control to raise public awareness of the dangers of battery disposal. It has also been advised to look for cheap battery kits online that may not meet government safety standards and testing requirements.
Inventors have been working on new ways to recycle lithium-ion batteries to restore their valuables and available batteries can replace 1,000 lost batteries.
You can do your part as a person by learning more about this critical climate issue and setting a good example for your community with recycling batteries.
For example, you can often find grocery stores and libraries with recycling boxes for used batteries. There are well-established battery-recycling programs such as Call2Renycle, which partner with major retailers to collect batteries and provide them in illegal locations. There is also an option to mail in used batteries if that is more convenient.
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