Improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries is one of the main causes of fires.
Firefighters are warning the public that throwing everyday items containing these batteries into trash and recycling bins is turning into a national crisis.
What is happening?
As the BBC I mentionedWest Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued warnings about the dangers of incorrectly placing battery-powered items in recycling bins.
In one community, the department cited approximately 85 tons (94 tons) of improperly disposed electrical materials causing 46 fires at a garbage sorting site, as well as five garbage truck fires. Risks arise when garbage companies collect household bins containing batteries and compact the trash, crushing the lithium-ion batteries in the process.
The fire department said these fires are preventable and divert resources from other unavoidable emergencies.
“It could catch fire instantly because of the chemicals inside,” David Borland, the department’s assistant area commander, told the BBC.
Why are lithium-ion battery fires important?
Lithium-ion batteries are common today, powering everything from vape pens to cell phones and power tools. Although small in size, these powerful, high-energy batteries can start fires while spewing gas and shrapnel when they explode.
However, these types of batteries are essential for the transition to clean energy because they allow energy to be stored from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Lithium-ion batteries are also used in Electric vehicles And grid-scale battery storage systems, which are essential to reduce transportation pollution and make renewable energy a reliable 24/7 solution.
However, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries endanger people and property, and people die as a result of catastrophic battery failure.
What is done to prevent battery fires?
West Yorkshire Fire Brigade has launched a campaign with the city council and the local waste management company to raise public awareness about the dangers of battery disposal. She also advised against buying cheap battery packs online that don’t meet government safety regulations and testing requirements.
Innovators are also working on new ways to recycle lithium-ion batteries to reuse their valuable materials and rechargeable batteries that could replace 1,000 disposable batteries.
You can do your part as an individual by learning more about this Critical climate issue And set a good example for your community by recycling batteries.
For example, you can often find grocery stores and libraries that have special bins for recycling used batteries. There are well-established battery recycling programs such as Call2Recycle, which partners with major retailers to collect batteries and provide convenient drop-off locations. There is also an option to mail used batteries if that is more convenient.
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