ISRI and the state of South Carolina have partnered to launch a safe battery recycling public education campaign, Take Charge: Be Battery Smart. In a joint effort between ISRI and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and support from several other organizations, the campaign is designed to increase the public’s understanding of the health and environmental benefits of safely recycling household batteries.
The campaign focuses on educating the public on the importance of properly using and recycling household batteries, specifically lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are in almost every electronic device used today, including laptops, smartphones, desktops, tablets, and smartwatches, and can be exceptionally dangerous to handle.
South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette said, “This is an important initiative that affects every South Carolina family. This campaign will help educate families about the hidden dangers of batteries and the economic benefits of recycling. By responsibly managing batteries, we not only protect our loved ones but also contribute to preserving the critical minerals that make up batteries.”
The dangers of lithium-ion batteries are a widely debated issue in the waste industry, specifically for ITAD providers. These explosive batteries have caused numerous warehouse fires and destroyed many processing facilities and homes simply by being damaged while mishandled.
Spreading battery safety awareness can help provide adequate information to the public about how to prevent battery fires or what to do if a chemical fire from a lithium-ion battery occurs.
The IT asset disposition process can be hazardous and lead to batteries being jostled or bumped by other pieces of hardware, resulting in a battery unexpectedly releasing its stored energy and beginning the self-heating process, which can lead to combustion.
HOBI International Inc. follows an established set of industry safety standards regarding the potential LIB fire risk, including a list of safe, approved tools and procedures used in the battery removal process. HOBI believes that a possible solution lies in developing a mechanism capable of determining the discharge of lithium-ion batteries or discharging the battery at a quick but safe rate.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 877-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.