Fire officials and waste haulers across the metropolitan Washington region are imploring residents and businesses to adopt safe battery management practices to prevent fire incidents in the home and within waste and recycling centers. Officials gathered today to raise public awareness on the dangers of improper battery use and disposal, as part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) Battery Management Campaign.
Fire incidents resulting from device overcharging and/or improperly disposed of batteries are on the rise. While the exact causes of fires are not always known, local fire departments have documented several incidents of fires linked to rechargeable batteries. Just two months ago, DC Fire and EMS reported an electric scooter as the source of an apartment fire that left one person in critical condition and dozens of others homeless.
Rechargeable batteries, including Lithium-Ions, pose a particular fire risk when overcharged, overheated, or punctured. This creates dangerous conditions when batteries enter the waste and recycling collection process. A 2021 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that between 2013 and 2020, 64 waste facilities across the country had experienced 245 fires causing injuries, emergency service responses, service disruptions, and monetary loss.
“Batteries are an everyday item for all of us—they power our lives: our phones, watches, electric tools, and other equipment. But when their lifecycle is over, they are simply NOT everyday trash. It’s on all of us to keep each other safe by knowing how to safely use these items, and ensure we dispose of batteries through the proper channels,” said Montgomery County Hazardous Materials Battalion Chief Ivan Browning at today’s event.
The demonstration, conducted by the Fire & Risk Alliance, included a live fire demonstration of a punctured battery and a simulated overcharge of an e-bicycle.
Area officials encourage the public to follow these tips to make sure batteries are being disposed of properly:
- Do not throw away rechargeable batteries in trash or recycling bins. These batteries can overheat or get punctured or crushed causing them to explode which causes fires that endanger workers.
- Rechargeable batteries NiCd, NiMh, Lithium-Ion, Button, and batteries greater than 9 volt must be taken to a drop-off site.
- Small “button cell” batteries, which are found in wristwatches, hearing aids and calculators, contain silver oxide and mercury and must be recycled. If you have this type of battery replaced by a professional retailer, they will usually recycle the old one for you.
- The safest methods of transporting rechargeable batteries are to place each battery individually into a clear plastic bag or taping the ends with masking tape. When carrying small batteries in your pocket, do not mix them with coins and house keys.
In addition to the steps above, be mindful of overcharging by unplugging devices once they reach a full charge. Batteries powering e-bikes and e-scooters are powerful—they should never be charged inside the home. Instead, charge these devices in a garage or outside, and away from any flammable materials. With all rechargeable devices, use the charger provided by the device manufacturer and avoid using third-party charging devices or battery packs.
Several area jurisdictions and local private waste haulers partnered with COG to develop tips and other public education materials for the campaign. For more information on battery management, including jurisdiction-specific guidance, visit GoRecycle.org.