‘They can instantly burst into flames’
Improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries is a leading cause of fires.
Firefighters are warning the public that throwing everyday items containing these batteries into trash and recycling bins is becoming a national crisis.
What’s going on?
as BBC reportedWest Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is issuing warnings about the dangers of incorrectly placing battery-powered items in recycling bins.
In one community, the department said about 85 tons (94 tons) of improperly disposed electrical items caused 46 fires at the garbage sorting yard, as well as five fires in garbage trucks. The dangers arise when garbage companies collect household bins containing batteries and compact the garbage, crushing lithium-ion batteries.
The fire department said these fires were preventable and diverted resources from other unavoidable emergencies.
“They can catch fire instantly because of the chemicals in them,” the department’s deputy regional commander, David Burland, said, according to the BBC.
Why are lithium-ion battery fires important?
Lithium-ion batteries are pretty common these days, powering everything from vape pens to cell phones to power tools. These batteries, which are high energy and powerful despite their small size, can cause fire by spraying gas and shrapnel when they explode.
But such batteries are vital for the transition to clean energy, as they make it possible to store energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Lithium ion batteries are also used electric vehicles and grid-scale battery storage systems, which are needed to reduce transportation pollution and make renewable energy a reliable 24/7 solution.
However, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries put people and property at risk, and people lose their lives due to serious battery failures.
What is being done to prevent battery fires?
West Yorkshire fire brigade has launched a campaign alongside the town council and local waste management company to raise public awareness of the dangers of disposing of batteries. It also advised against online purchases of cheap battery kits that do not meet government safety regulations and testing requirements.
Innovators are also working on new ways to reuse valuable materials by recycling lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable batteries that could replace 1,000 disposable batteries.
You can do your individual part by learning more about this topic. critical climate issue and setting a good example in your community by recycling batteries.
For example, you can often find grocery stores and libraries with special recycling bins for used batteries. There are well-established battery recycling programs such as Call2Recycle, which partner with major retailers to collect batteries and provide convenient drop-off locations. There is also the option to send used batteries by post if this is more convenient.
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