Lithium-ion batteries have become an essential part of modern life, powering everything from toothbrushes, TV remotes, smartphones, and laptops to electric bikes and BEV vehicles. But while they鈥檝e made our lives more mobile and efficient, they鈥檝e also created a new and dangerous challenge for the waste and recycling industry: fires.
Across the country, facing households, waste haulers, transfer stations, material recovery facilities, and landfills. These incidents cause millions of dollars in damage every year, put workers in harm鈥檚 way, and interrupt essential services for communities. And it only takes one battery, hidden in a load of recyclables or trash, to ignite a fire that can shut down operations for days or weeks.
This is not a problem we can ignore. It is one of the most urgent safety issues confronting our industry today鈥攁nd one that we have the tools to address if we work together.
The Hidden Risk in Everyday Products
Lithium-ion batteries are designed to store a tremendous amount of energy in a small package. That鈥檚 what makes them so useful鈥攁nd so hazardous when damaged or overheated. When they are crushed, punctured, or exposed to high heat, they can short-circuit and enter 鈥渢hermal runaway鈥� in milliseconds, releasing intense heat and flames that are extremely difficult to extinguish.
This risk is amplified by how commonplace batteries have become. They are now built into everything from power tools, children鈥檚 toys, headphones, and laptops to greeting cards. Most residents don鈥檛 even think twice before tossing them into the trash or curbside recycling bins. But once those batteries make it into a collection truck or onto a tipping floor, the danger becomes real鈥攑utting drivers, sorters, and entire facilities at risk.
Building a Safer System
The key is to make safe battery disposal easy, obvious, and consistent across every community we serve. That means pairing education with infrastructure and readiness on the front lines:
- Accessible Drop-Off Points: Batteries are far less likely to end up in the waste stream when residents have convenient, clearly labeled places to bring them鈥攚hether at municipal buildings, fire stations, or retail partners.
- Consistent Public Messaging: Education can鈥檛 be a once-a-year campaign. We need ongoing reminders through service guides, social media, and local outreach that batteries never belong in trash or recycling bins.
When these elements work together, the result is a safer system for everyone鈥攆rom the workers who handle material every day to the residents counting on us to keep recycling programs running smoothly.
Collaboration Is Our Best Defense
The most effective way to address the growing challenge of battery disposal is through collaboration. That鈥檚 why the National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF) launched the national . This effort is designed to unite all stakeholders, such as haulers, municipalities, manufacturers, retailers, and sustainability leaders, around a single, consistent message that reaches the public. By working together to promote this campaign, we can amplify awareness, make safe battery disposal second nature, and reduce the fire and environmental risks facing our communities.
Central to this effort is our partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and its iconic Woodsy Owl, a trusted conservation educator and messenger for generations of Americans. By modernizing Woodsy鈥檚 voice for today鈥檚 families, firefighters, and waste services employees, the campaign brings credibility, familiarity, and urgency to the issue of battery disposal. With the support of industry, government, and community partners, this collaboration has the potential to standardize safe practices nationwide and create lasting change.
Turning Risk Into Resilience
Lithium-ion batteries aren鈥檛 going away鈥攊f anything, they are multiplying. As electric vehicles, e-bikes, and portable electronics continue to expand, the presence of these batteries in the waste stream will only grow. That means the risk will grow, too鈥攗nless we act.
Our industry has always been resilient, innovative, and committed to safety. By investing in education, infrastructure, and collaboration now, we can prevent fires before they start, protect our workforce, and safeguard the facilities and services that communities rely on.
We urge haulers, municipalities, and sustainability leaders to join us in this effort. Together, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity to build a safer, stronger, and more sustainable waste and recycling ecosystem for the future.