Your Wyoming Link: Trash facility fires on the rise due to improper battery disposal
Battery-related fires at trash facilities are on the rise across the country. Teton County has seen two since December, including one involving a battery-powered light-up toddler toy.
“We lose several thousand garbage trucks a year, one or two transfer stations, one or two recycling facilities, because of these batteries,” said Michael Hoffman, President and CEO of the National Waste & Recycling Association. “Garbage trucks are $400,000, the transfer stations are $5 to $10 million, and recycling facilities are $50 or $60 million.”
From singing birthday cards to light-up shoes to vapes, batteries are everywhere, and some are more dangerous than others.
“Unlike your alkaline batteries, where the likelihood that if it was damaged it could create a fire is low, with lithium, if you damage the cells, you get a chemical reaction. A chemical reaction that goes to several thousand degrees Fahrenheit in milliseconds,” explained Hoffman.
These batteries are in many household items. From clocks to toothbrushes to smoke detectors, rechargeable and long-life batteries are everywhere. Some items, like vapes, are posing extra challenges to trash facilities.
“At the moment, we're not in a position to take vapes because it's basically an active reaction going on,” he said. “We're putting pressure on the disposable vaping world. You have to have a responsible method for what you are supposed to do. At a minimum, you design it so you can break it open, and take the battery out, and then you can throw that out.”
While these battery-related fires are rising nationwide, Wyoming is experiencing a drought. Fire officials have already warned of an aggressive season and advised the public to take precautions.
“If you ask the firefighters, they'll tell you they're very difficult to fight. They virtually can't be put out with water,” said Hoffman. “Firefighters are learning that they have to fight these fires to contain them. They can't actually fight them to put them out.”
To help mitigate fires, it's important to properly dispose of batteries. Experts say it's best to tape the ends, then use online resources to find the closest disposal site to you. The Casper Regional Solid Waste Facility also offers free disposal for residents.
Additionally, they warn not to replace power tool batteries with cheap alternatives.
“None of those aftermarket batteries are approved by the original manufacturer's engineering or manufacturing quality control,” he explained. “Your risk is that you will have poorly engineered cell structure, and then eventually it can create this thermal reaction.”
If you notice that your batteries are damaged or leaking, Hoffman advises putting them in something metal and contacting your local fire department.