Industry calls for campaign about the proper disposal of rechargeable batteries during National Safety Month
Submitted by Tracy Pawelski, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA)
June is National Safety Month and there is no better time to tackle the escalating danger associated with the improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are the rechargeable batteries that power everything from household electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, e-bikes, e-cigarettes, electronic toothbrushes, and remote controls to the batteries used in electric vehicles and even children’s toys. Some extended-life non-rechargeable batteries found at many retail outlets, also contain lithium and can cause fires.
At a statewide summit hosted by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC) held on June 8, 2023 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, representatives of the Pennsylvania’s waste and recycling industry, the RMC, and state agency officials gathered to discuss what to do with batteries at the end of their life and how to educate consumers about their safe disposal.
“Unfortunately, the improper disposal of rechargeable batteries is leading to dangerous fires that threaten the safety of recycling workers, emergency first responders, and the public at large,” said Tim O’Donnell, president of the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA). “Lithium-ion batteries are causing fires on trucks, burning down recycling facilities, and starting fires on planes too.”
Not all rechargeable batteries contain lithium, but many longer-life batteries increasing do. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable due to a secondary cell in the battery. One-time use lithium batteries have a longer life than a conventional alkaline battery and can cause fires just as much as lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
As more lithium-ion batteries get discarded and improperly placed in curbside residential waste or recycling collection containers and bags, the safety risks related to their combustibility are increasing. Once in the recycling or waste stream, these batteries get mixed with tons of materials and placed in hot temperatures under significant compression.
“PWIA members are working hard to avoid fires by spotting and removing batteries at our recycling facilities and fighting fires more effectively when they do start,” continued O’Donnell. “At the same time, we want the public to know not to put these batteries in their trash bags or recycling bins in the first place.”
Consumer information about proper disposal including local drop-off locations can be found at Call2Recycle. All Call2Recycle drop-off locations accept used rechargeable batteries. Additional information can be found at a recently-launched Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website dedicated to questions on lithium-ion batteries.
The RMC is the only Pennsylvania entity working daily on markets and economic development issues for Pennsylvania’s recycled items including the supply chain interruption caused by the significant impact of rechargeable battery fires. “When a materials recovery facility experiences shutdown, not only does recycling get backed up at the curb, but the manufacturers using recycled resources to make new products are disrupted too,” added Bob Bylone, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center president and CEO. “This contributes to the reluctance by some manufacturers to use recycled materials in new products and packaging. In Pennsylvania, products like new bottles, jugs, cans, boxes, paper towels, napkins, and toilet tissue are all made from the items we recycle.”
As waste and recycling companies work to educate their customers about best practices in recycling, the group called for a publicly funded campaign to raise awareness about the safe disposal of lithium-ion batteries. “Although public education is an anchor component of any campaign, answers to the growing used- battery pandemic are not solely found through increased education,” continued Bylone. “Proper citizen-based recycling and disposal, funding and front-line training for emergency personnel in materials recovery facilities, and funding assistance for fire suppression equipment are all needed to collectively solve the used-battery pandemic.”
“The waste and recycling industry stands ready to help, but the answers do not lie with us alone,” concluded O’Donnell. “We call on the battery manufacturers to come to the table so that we can work together to ensure public safety, especially as the use of these batteries continues to skyrocket.”
For more information, visit www.pawasteindustries.org or www.PennRMC.org.