A scary problem might be lurking in your old household electronic devices like mobile phones, laptop computers and tablets, motorized toys, power tools, cameras, headphones and even electronic cigarettes: zombie batteries. If they are not recycled properly and end up in household waste, dead batteries can still cause dangerous incidents – hence the name “zombie batteries” which are causing hundreds of fires a year at waste and recycling sites.
Too many lithium-ion batteries are going into either recycling bins or trash bags, where they are easily damaged by sorting equipment when they make it to recycling facilities and start to burn. When compressed in the back of a waste collection truck or by the equipment at a recycling center, they can easily be punctured, causing a spark that can quickly ignite a fire fueled by the surrounding waste and recyclable materials. And the threat zombie batteries pose on fire professionals, waste-industry workers and facilities is real. As of mid-2019, there were 323 reported fires at waste and recycling facilities in the U.S and Canada, according to Fire Rover, and year to year, facility fires are trending up as more lithium-ion batteries go into the waste stream.
That’s why it’s so important to recycle old electronics the right way. Republic Services, the nation’s 2nd largest recycling and waste company, offers some tips for safely disposing of all household e-waste and lithium-ion batteries.
Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash
Tags: batteries, donations, recycle, upcycle
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