The City of Lakewood started a new program that recycles lithium batteries. Chris Gordon, the public works director for the city, explained the importance of recycling. 鈥淩ecycling in Lakewood is a very, very important subject and a top priority of ours,鈥� he said. The city has partnered with the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District for the program. 鈥淭hey can bring their lithium batteries up. Certain batteries need to be taped, things of that nature, otherwise, we handle it here,鈥� Gordon said.
Stephanie Corbett with Case Western Reserve University said that lithium batteries have hazardous materials in them and should be recycled for a few reasons. 鈥淭hey are a fire hazard at the end of their life, or if they have a problem in the middle of their life,鈥� she said.
She went on to explain more reasons that recycling these batteries are so crucial. 鈥淲e want to make sure they get recycled cause there鈥檚 some really important minerals that are hard to get and expensive to mine for that can be reused,鈥� she said. You can find lithium batteries in laptops, power tools and other electronic devices but the program isn鈥檛 accepting those batteries. They are taking smaller lithium batteries right now.