Overview
There are hidden dangers tied to improper handling and disposal of batteries at their end-of-life. Many consumers are unaware of these dangers, which has led to a surge in fires at recycling and waste facilities across the country. A recent article in Resource Recycling surveyed 119 MRFs nationwide on the topic of lithium-based batteries entering their waste stream, with 50% of respondents seeing an increase in fires the past two years and 89% experiencing or suspecting fires caused by lithium-based batteries.
The bottom line: more awareness is needed to mitigate safety incidents.
The above reasons are the catalyst for the ‘Avoid the Spark. Be Battery Safety Smart.’ campaign. Centered on battery safety education and supported by industry groups devoted to batteries, electronics and power tools, the campaign seeks to make battery safety a shared responsibility that can keep communities and consumers safe.