This week marks Fire Prevention Week with the theme, Charge into Fire Safety, which focuses on the safe use and disposal of lithium-ion batteries.
There are safe ways to dispose of batteries at the end of their life, says James Nicholls, collection manager with the City of Lethbridge’s Waste and Environment department.
While people try to do the right thing by putting batteries into residential carts, the City of Lethbridge can’t receive any type of battery in the black, blue or green curbside carts.
“That’s an absolute no-go, and there’s a variety of reasons for that,” says Nicholls.
Nicholls notes there’s not only a danger at the City’s material recovery facility out at the landfill, but during the collection of the materials there’s also a hazard. “We’ve had several recent examples where these batteries have ended up in a blue cart or a green cart and started a small fire in the collection vehicle. That obviously creates an operational hazard for our drivers and for our truck.”
According to Nicholls, there’s a chance of losing that asset altogether, “creating a health and safety risk for the driver to put that fire out.”
“There’s also an operational risk to our partners at Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services. They have to come out, assist us and make sure the fire is completely extinguished.”
“That takes time away from their already very busy days. And that’s not even before we’ve actually reached the material recovery facility. We’ve also had several fires out at that facility too,” Nicholls says.
“We have several people working at that facility handling materials going across the line to ensure proper recycling is completed. When they have to handle these batteries, they can be damaged, swollen or broken. It creates a health and safety hazard to them and again can create significant fire risk,” adds Nicholls.
The City has the Waste Wizard – a tool in the Lethbridge Loop app and online to see how items, including batteries should be handled.
“So go on there and search up batteries,” Nicholls says.
“It’ll break it down by rechargeable batteries, your regular alkaline household batteries and electronics of different types,” Nicholls explains. “Vape pens we see a lot of. Accessing the Waste Wizard and searching up where you can safely dispose of items is the first place to start.”
You can also contact 3-1-1, Nicholls says, for the best information possible. “A couple of locations you can take these items to would be, first and foremost, the Waste and Recycling Centre. We have trained staff who can handle all types of different electronics and batteries, so they are safely recycled.”
The City also hosts a few e-waste recycling events each year, Nicholls notes. “To ensure people have convenient options in town to dispose of those items safely. We also have several locations around town.”
“A lot of electronics partners will take those items. You can bring them right into the store and they’ll take them off your hands, no problem at all,” Nicholls adds.
