A recycling center in Pitsea, England, that recently caught fire was confirmed to have been started by a lithium-ion battery, prompting the group manager Craig McLellan to promote proper battery disposal. The Pitsea fire lasted three days and was extinguished over a weekend by 52 Essex County Fire and Rescue Services (ECFRS) crews, including Basildon, Leigh, Rayleigh Weir, Southend, Wickford, and Hawkwell.
After thanking all who helped contain the fire, McLellan took a moment to impress upon the public the importance of proper battery disposition.
“I’d like to stress the importance of disposing of your lithium-ion batteries properly, not in a skip or with domestic household waste. The impact of this fire on the business has been huge, which has been caused due to irresponsible disposal. Always check with your local authority for suitable battery recycling arrangements in your area,” McLellan said.
Battery fires have destroyed hundreds of structures and are more difficult to extinguish due to their chemical properties. Once extinguished, lithium-ion battery fires can reignite hours or even days later. When LIBs are thrown out with municipal waste, they tend to end up in landfills and become damaged in the process, which can lead to chemical fires.
IT asset disposition enterprises like HOBI recycle retired IT assets so that no harm comes to the environment. ITAD companies also provide IT-managed services such as device repair and refurbishment, often including battery removal. It is best to leave battery handling to trained professionals to ensure no damage occurs to IT assets or other equipment to avoid chemical fires and property damage.
HOBI is an R2v3, RIOS, WBE, and ISO-14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of industry experience. HOBI prioritizes the safety of employees with fire safety practices and special tools during the disposition process.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.