Lithium batteries can be a fire hazard if they aren’t disposed of responsibly. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County encourages you to be “battery smart and fire smart” by dropping off your lithium batteries at a Home Chemical & Recycling Center or retailer near you. Be sure to tape the terminals of your lithium batteries with clear tape before you drop them off. The tape will help prevent the terminals from touching each other or other metal objects. This avoids a “contact trigger,” which could start a fire.
The use of lithium batteries is increasing. With expanded use comes increased fire risk. Lithium batteries are easily damaged once they enter the waste stream. When they’re dropped, scraped, crushed, or punctured, the lithium inside becomes exposed. When lithium combines with water, it produces highly flammable hydrogen and lithium hydroxide. This combination alone produces a spark.
When this happens inside a garbage or recycling truck or solid waste facility, the resulting spark can start a fire that has devastating consequences. Because the battery is surrounded by solid waste materials, which serve as fuel, the fire quickly spreads. The fire can get out of control and burn for weeks. A fire of this type has the potential to critically disrupt the Authority’s solid waste infrastructure.
So how can you become “battery smart and fire smart?” You can start by being able to identify the types of lithium batteries you use every day. Some commonly used items that contain lithium batteries are (not an exhaustive list):
- Electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, computer peripherals, Bluetooth devices and smart wearables
- Remote car keys
- Vaping devices
- Game controllers
- Portable power packs
- Electric toothbrushes
- Toys
- Smoke/carbon monoxide alarms
- E-bikes and e-scooters
Help them spread the word that lithium batteries are a fire hazard … but we can all do our part and a fire won’t start. Learn More: swa.org/lib.
