Battery fires have replaced electrical fires as the number one cause of fire and are becoming more prevalent since the rise of electric vehicles, especially in large cities. New York City and San Francisco fire departments have reported handling over 660 fires involving lithium-ion batteries during the last five years.
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 EPA is now looking to create a category of universal waste specifically for lithium-ion batteries at the request of the electric power industry. LIBs are in most of our electronics, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and desktops, and are known for their explosive nature when damaged.
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.