The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) today has issued guidance on the proper disposal of hoverboards.聽Media reports from around the nation have documented cases of fire as a result of over-charging of the batteries in the device, while airlines and some shipping companies will no longer handle them.聽 NWRA is advising consumers when they are discarding these devices not to place them in their recycling or trash bins. Instead, NWRA is providing the following guidance:聽 Consumers should contact a local electronics recycling center if one is available in their area, as hoverboards use lithium-ion batteries, similar to those found in laptop computers.聽聽 If there is no access to a local electronics recycler, consumers should contact their local waste services provider, municipal or county waste service, and inquire if they can be dropped off at the same locations where those companies and local governments accept other products with lithium ion batteries.
Call2Recycle, a non-profit organization not affiliated with NWRA, offers resources to consumers in the United States and Canada who are seeking guidance on how to properly recycle the lithium ion batteries that power hoverboard products.聽 Consumers can contact Call2Recycle customer service toll-free at 877-723-1297, and Call2Recycle also offers a free drop-off collection site locator, which can be accessed online at call2recycle.org. 鈥淎 core focus of NWRA and its member companies is to educate consumers on what household items can properly be recycled,鈥� commented Sharon H. Kneiss, president and chief executive officer of NWRA. 鈥淗overboards, like other electronics, most batteries, and household hazardous waste items, require special handling, and they should not be placed in recycling or trash bins.鈥�
鈥淥ur organization has worked closely with the public and private sectors to find solutions for the responsible and safe disposal of spent batteries. In the case of damaged batteries from hoverboards, there are special requirements set forth by national authorities in the U.S. and Canada for the handling of damaged and/or defective lithium-based batteries so we encourage consumers to get informed about how to dispose of them,鈥� said Carl E. Smith, CEO & President of Call2Recycle, Inc.
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