Investigations later revealed the source of the ignition to be a lithium-ion battery-powered children's toy. Recently a lithium battery ignited in one of Grundon's collection vehicles. Investigations later identified that the source of ignition for the fire was a lithium-ion battery-powered children’s toy which had been thrown into black-bagged general waste – underlining just how lethal incorrect disposal of such items can be. Its quick response helped avert a major incident, however without their expertise and the swift actions of the driver, the fire could have caused significant damage to the vehicle and trailer, as well as having the potential to endanger life. Thankfully, our quick-thinking driver spotted the smoke and managed to pull over to a safe area before calling the Fire Brigade. This was highlighted recently when a fire broke out in the trailer of one of our vehicles as it was driving along a motorway with a bulk load of non-recyclable waste en route to an Energy from Waste facility. Not only is this highly dangerous, but if it happens during the transportation or recycling process, then the damage could be extensive and lives could be put at risk. Even the smallest amount of water, or water-based liquid, will be enough to ignite a damaged lithium battery. It might be raining there may be condensation forming a half-full bottle may be crushed and leak onto other rubbish. The biggest danger with lithium batteries is if they are damaged or not fully sealed and come into contact with water during the disposal process.įor example, if you dispose of a lithium battery in a general waste bin or bag which is then emptied into a skip or larger container or straight into a waste collection vehicle the potential for it to inadvertently come into contact with water is high. To put that into context, the figure is over a third (38%) of all fires which took place. Statistics show that in the year between April 2019 and March 2020, lithium batteries alone were thought to be responsible for more than 250 fires at waste facilities belonging to members of the Environmental Services Association (ESA). While batteries of any kind should not be placed into normal mixed recycling or general waste bins it is lithium-ion and lithium primary batteries that pose the biggest dangers as, if not disposed of correctly, they can quickly start a fire. Some locations may charge a fee.With an ever-rising number of fires caused by the incorrect disposal of batteries, Grundon Waste Management’s Technical Director, Jonathan Harris, outlines the safest way to recycle these everyday items.īatteries are at the beating heart of almost everything we touch these days – from key fobs to mobile phones, power tools to laptops – yet when it comes to end-of-life disposal, things aren’t so simple. (Light bulbs and some small electronics are accepted, as well. (Many other items are accepted for recycling or proper disposal.) Do not put any other items in bags with batteries. Only batteries will be accepted (unless otherwise noted). Many of these locations are not equipped to handle other types of materials. Please call first to make sure the location is actively participating in the program. The following information is provided as a convenience, but Austin Resource Recovery cannot guarantee its accuracy. You can drop batteries off for proper recycling at one of these locations. Batteries can cause fires and pollute our environment when not recycled correctlyīatteries should never be thrown into dumpsters or curbside trash, recycling or composting carts.
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