Battery Fires in Waste – Essential Actions

Batteries Must Not Be Placed in Any Bin

Batteries and battery‑powered items must never be placed in household recycling or general waste bins. When batteries are crushed, damaged, or compacted during collection and processing, they can overheat, ignite, or explode. This risk is especially high for lithium and lithium‑ion batteries, which are highly volatile.

Battery-related fires pose a serious risk to people, collection vehicles, and waste facilities. If batteries ignite or explode, they can cause fires in collection trucks and waste facilities, damage equipment and infrastructure, place workers and the public at risk, disrupt essential services, and result in significant financial costs.