One week after a fire destroyed a building at a battery recycling facility in Dalton, Georgia, owner Lamar Bearden still doesn’t know exactly what happened.
That’s what he knows: around 12:50 p.m. on March 25, one of his employees walked through a dark storage area at Asset Recycling and Recovery where batteries for recycling were stored. Nothing seemed strange. But 10 minutes later, after the employee had locked himself in and moved on to other things, something went wrong in the room he had just left.
“That sucker was on fire,” Bearden said.
The cause, as far as you know, was a lithium-ion battery that may have been damaged in traffic and caused a spark that ignited the fire. None of the batteries stored at the facility for recycling were mishandled, Bearden said, before adding that the company now has so many that employees can’t always check all the ones that arrive.
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“We may be crazy, but we’re not careless,” he said.
Between a steady drum beat of new gadget announcements, our collective acceptance of small electronics and the growing demand for a new generation of all-electric cars, our reliance on powerful, rechargeable batteries continues to grow. Meanwhile, battery-related accidents, such as the one described by Bearden, including some that could be completely avoided, have become all too common.
In January, two firefighters were injured in response to a fire that is said to have been caused by discarded lithium-ion batteries at a recycling plant in Taylor, Tex. And a few weeks ago, the U.S. Coast Guard issued an alert to maritime security personnel describing how a China container that was “illegally charged” with discarded lithium-ion batteries caught fire while it was transported to the port of Virginia in 2021.
These incidents are part of a trend that has sidelined the recycling industry and government. The Environmental Protection Agency said in a report released last summer that it found evidence of 245 fires in 28 states between 2013 and 2020 that were likely caused by lithium-metal batteries or ion batteries. rechargeable lithium. And that figure, the agency says, is probably lower than it should be because not all incidents are made public or covered by the media.
The Biden administration has earmarked $ 3 billion to invest in battery innovation and recycling, but for now, it’s up to state lawmakers and local governments to figure out how to deal with and try to prevent these accidents.
The incidence rate is “rising, not staying the same,” said Joe La Mariana, executive director of RethinkWaste, a municipal waste management agency in northern California. In September 2016, a four-alarm fire caused by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery broke a recycling facility operated by RethinkWaste, causing millions of dollars in damage and a complete shutdown of the plant for four months. And since she has been online again, La Mariana says that the fires caused by these batteries still occur regularly.
“We had one about a week and a half ago,” he added.
While the facilities and processes designed to handle these batteries responsibly are not immune to accidents, at least some of these incidents can be completely avoided. And the answer is perhaps too obvious: stop throwing things away with rechargeable batteries where they don’t fit.
“They need to be treated properly,” said Jeffrey Spangenberger, director of the ReCell Center, a battery recycling research and development center established by the Department of Energy. “If you throw them in the trash, they can be crushed by machinery or mistreated. A lot of people want to recycle them, which is what you should do with them, but they put them in the sidewalk bin. And that’s not right either. “
Trying to recycle these types of batteries in the wrong way can be as bad as not recycling them at all. Because recycling can be confusing enough to do well, here’s our guide to what to do with these batteries, and the products that live in them, once they’re over.
The best thing to do with these items, whether they are old phones, laptops, or anything else you can get your hands on, is to make sure they last as long as possible. But eventually, the batteries of all these products degrade to the point that they can’t do their job effectively. And that’s where your search for responsible recycling methods really begins.
One last thing to keep in mind: If you plan to recycle rechargeable batteries, be sure to cover their terminals with duct tape before storing and transporting them.
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Some companies that previously relied on disposable batteries have begun to abandon them. IKEA, the popular supplier of meatballs and flat-panel furniture, has said it has completely eliminated alkaline batteries in favor or rechargeable ones. Still, you probably still have an AA and AAA cache hidden in a drawer somewhere.
In most states, you can remove a pair of disposable AA batteries from a remote control and throw them in the trash without any consequences. (The list of restrictions includes California, which considers this type of battery the same type of hazardous material as rechargeable used).
But just because you’re legally allowed to throw away these batteries doesn’t mean you have to. The EPA’s guidance is clear: it’s still worth sending used alkaline or zinc carbon batteries to a specialist recycler. Our tip: If you plan to recycle some of your rechargeable batteries on a regular basis anyway, fill a bag with used disposable batteries and take it with you. You don’t have to worry about recording standard AA and AAA terminals, but you should for 9-volt batteries and small button batteries.
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Large batteries have become a staple in the lives of some people, especially those who have committed to greener ways of moving around. Fortunately, dealing with some of these batteries once they have reached the end of their useful life is easier than you might expect.
For batteries that previously powered electric scooters and mobility scooters, the best option is to find a local battery recycler who can handle them responsibly with the search tools provided by Earth 911 and Call2Recycle. Because these batteries are not as common as the others, however, you should call potential recyclers first to make sure they can accept them.
The process is a bit easier when it comes to an electric bike battery. Call2Recycle, the aforementioned battery recycling management program, gives you the option to search for local bike shops that accept batteries used by two dozen popular cycling brands.
But what about cars? Thanks in part to rising fuel prices, the demand for electric vehicles is rising. Research firm Gartner expects to ship 6 million electric and hybrid vehicles this year, 50% more than the more than 4 million shipped in 2021. Between this increase in interest and rising resource costs key like lithium, properly recycling electric vehicle batteries will become a key. priority for car manufacturers.
The ReCell Center Spangenberger says that “there aren’t many [electric] vehicle batteries that have reached the end of their useful life yet,” because many of the most popular models have been launched over the past 10 years. But when your Toyota Prius or Nissan Leaf or Tesla Model 3 starts to offer you significantly less battery life than before, your first stop should be at your local dealer. If necessary, aged batteries can be disassembled and delivered to recycling facilities or, in some cases, reused to power other machines.
In most communities, alkaline and zinc carbon batteries can be safely disposed of in household waste. EPA Recommendation: Dispose of used alkaline and zinc carbon batteries in battery recyclers or consult your local or state solid waste authority.
Contents
Can batteries start a fire?
Even low-voltage batteries, such as commonly used AA and AAA alkaline batteries, can cause a fire under the right conditions. If the negative and positive points of the batteries come in contact with something metallic, the heat begins to build up.
Can loose batteries cause fires? When used correctly, no. But batteries can present a risk of fire when they are overcharged, short-circuited, submerged in water, or damaged. It is also very important to load them safely.
Can 2 batteries touching cause a fire?
Touching the positive and negative terminals of a battery with a conductor (i.e., metal) allows energy to flow out of the battery. This concept makes household items such as flashlights work, but if the terminals are connected to a low-resistance element, the flow of current can cause a fire.
Can storing batteries together cause a fire?
Storing batteries may seem like an easy task, but if you don’t do it right, it can cause a fire. Logan-Rogersville Deputy Chief of Staff Russ Lafferty said putting batteries in a trash can can be dangerous. “Anything can cause heat to build up and start a fire,” he said.
Is it dangerous to store batteries together?
Store new and used batteries in separate containers or plastic bags and mention the date you purchased them. In addition, batteries of different types must be kept separate from each other. If stored together, they could react and cause a short circuit.
Can two batteries start a fire?
It seems that especially with lithium batteries, or 9 V batteries where the two terminals are at the top of the battery, the fire has started because there has been a short circuit between the terminals of the battery which causes the battery heats up and heat builds up. the battery has finally caused a fire …
Can batteries touching start a fire?
If a discarded battery is touching another piece of metal (such as another discarded battery, a penny, or aluminum foil), this may also ignite a fire; and if the discarded battery is among dry materials such as paper, they will act as a fire and help spread the fire.
Can batteries cause house fires?
It seems that especially with lithium batteries, or 9 V batteries where the two terminals are at the top of the battery, the fire has started because there has been a short circuit between the terminals of the battery which causes the battery heats up and heat builds up. the battery has finally caused a fire …
What happens if batteries touch each other?
Do not store batteries with the opposite ends touching. Avoid storing household batteries with other metal objects, such as stationary staples or loose changes. Contact with metal may cause the battery to short out, which could cause the battery to leak.
What causes batteries to catch fire?
Battery packs consist of thousands of cells packed together. During a heat leak, heat generated by a failed cell can pass to the next cell, making it thermally unstable as well. This chain reaction can cause the entire package to be destroyed in a matter of seconds.
Why do batteries catch fire?
Heat: It is completely normal for batteries to generate some heat when they are charged or used. But if your device’s lithium-ion battery feels very hot to the touch, there’s a good chance it might be faulty and at risk of starting a fire. Swelling: When a lithium battery fails, another common sign is swelling of the battery.
Why do batteries randomly explode?
When an alkaline battery heats up or is exposed to a strong electric current, the energy releases hydrogen gas inside the battery cover. As the vapor pressure inside the battery reaches a critical point, the coating breaks.
What happens if a battery catches fire?
In general, if a battery is about to burn, it will feel very hot or swollen (the device may appear to have a lump or lump). It can then start to discolor causing damage, blisters and start smoking.
What happens to lithium-ion batteries in landfills?
Lithium batteries can cause landfill fires that can burn for many years. As a result, toxic chemicals released into the air adversely affect our breathing and contribute to global warming.
How long does it take for a lithium ion battery to decompose in a landfill? Extremely toxic to the environment, indoor chemicals will never decompose and will only contaminate the surrounding soil. The metal part of the batteries takes more than 100 years to decompose.
How are lithium-ion batteries disposed of?
Therefore, lithium-ion batteries, or those containing electronic devices, should be recycled into certified battery electronics recyclers that accept batteries instead of throwing them in the trash or in the bins. municipal recycling.
Can lithium batteries be 100% recycled?
In its 2020 impact report, released on Wednesday, the electric vehicle giant described its adoption of a “closed loop” process that would allow it to keep 100 percent of its batteries out of the landfill. which usually last about a decade. : â € œNone of our abandoned lithium-ion batteries goes to landfills and 100 percent …
Can lithium batteries be 100% recycled?
In its 2020 impact report, released on Wednesday, the electric vehicle giant described its adoption of a “closed loop” process that would allow it to keep 100 percent of its batteries out of the landfill. which usually last about a decade. : â € œNone of our abandoned lithium-ion batteries goes to landfills and 100 percent …
Can lithium be reclaimed from batteries?
All components of a Li-ion battery have value and can be recovered and reused. Currently, most recyclers only recover metals.
Are lithium batteries infinitely recyclable?
Lithium ion battery materials are infinitely recyclable and Redwood Materials is taking the opportunity to bring them back into the supply chain as the demand for technology increases, especially as they go online more electric vehicles and others that contain these valuable materials are retiring.
What percent of a lithium battery can be recycled?
Current recycling processes recover approximately 25% to 96% of the materials in a lithium-ion battery.
Do lithium batteries end up in landfills?
Most lithium-ion batteries are currently shipped to landfill, where they can leach materials into the environment. in terms of people equivalents (PE), or potential impact per person per year, without specific reference to a region.
Do Tesla batteries end up in landfills?
Any battery that no longer meets a customer’s needs can be repaired by Tesla at one of our worldwide service centers. None of our discarded lithium-ion batteries goes to landfill and is 100% recycled.
What happens to lithium batteries in landfills?
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and devices containing such batteries should not be disposed of with household waste or in recycling bins. They can cause fires during transport or in landfills and recyclers.
Are lithium batteries toxic to the environment?
Environmental Impact and Recycling Lithium-ion batteries contain less toxic metals than other batteries that may contain toxic metals such as lead or cadmium, so they are generally considered non-hazardous waste.
Why are lithium-ion batteries difficult to recycle?
The heavy metals they contain are hazardous to the environment Some types of lithium ion batteries contain metals that are very harmful even in relatively small amounts when these batteries break down. When these batteries end up in landfills, they filter out environmental pollutants such as cobalt, manganese, and nickel.
Why aren’t lithium batteries environmentally friendly? Environmental Impact and Recycling While safe for landfills, the physical extraction of lithium and the production of lithium ions are incredibly labor intensive and most are not recycled, which makes the impacts on the environment are expensive.
Why is battery recycling difficult?
Batteries contain a number of heavy metals and toxic chemicals and disposing of them in the same way as regular household waste has raised concerns about soil pollution and water pollution.
Why is recycling batteries difficult?
First, lithium-ion batteries are classified as hazardous waste due to their chemical composition, which makes recycling difficult. From an economic point of view, the resale value of lithium ion battery components is low compared to the associated costs, so the incentive to invest in a recycling process is also low.
Why are lithium-ion batteries so hard to recycle?
What percentage of lithium batteries are recycled?
The industry is familiar with a closed-loop system for recycling batteries: Today, 99% of lead-acid batteries in the United States are recycled. However, only about 5% of lithium-ion batteries are currently recycled, according to the DOE.
Can lithium-ion batteries be fully recycled?
Therefore, lithium-ion batteries, or those containing electronic devices, should be recycled into certified battery electronics recyclers that accept batteries instead of throwing them in the trash or in the bins. municipal recycling.
Can lithium batteries be recycled?
Therefore, lithium-ion batteries, or those containing electronic devices, should be recycled into certified battery electronics recyclers that accept batteries instead of throwing them in the trash or in the bins. municipal recycling.
Are lithium batteries really environmentally friendly?
Environmental Impact and Recycling Lithium-ion batteries contain less toxic metals than other batteries that may contain toxic metals such as lead or cadmium, so they are generally considered non-hazardous waste.
Can lithium batteries be 100% recycled?
In its 2020 impact report, released on Wednesday, the electric vehicle giant described its adoption of a “closed loop” process that would allow it to keep 100 percent of its batteries out of the landfill. which usually last about a decade. : â € œNone of our abandoned lithium-ion batteries goes to landfills and 100 percent …
What percentage of lithium batteries are recycled?
The industry is familiar with a closed-loop system for recycling batteries: Today, 99% of lead-acid batteries in the United States are recycled. However, only about 5% of lithium-ion batteries are currently recycled, according to the DOE.
What is the fastest way to drain a lithium battery?
Connect most LiPo battery connectors to the NiMH charger. Charge the battery with a possible background current, such as 0.1 A. When the battery is being charged, note the voltage number on the charger screen; when the amount reaches 3V, unplug the battery immediately.
Can lithium batteries be completely depleted? While new lithium-ion cells work differently from their predecessors and have no “memory effect,” draining them completely is detrimental to their health. Shallow discharges should be sufficient to keep lithium batteries conditioned. If the battery is completely discharged, avoid leaving it in this condition for many hours.
Do lithium batteries drain faster in the cold?
The good news is that you can discharge or use the battery no matter how cold it is, without worrying about the damage. You will notice that your lithium battery runs out much faster than in the warmer months. When temperatures reach this low, below freezing, capacity is temporarily reduced.
How lithium batteries are affected by cold?
Although lithium-ion batteries handle cold weather better than most chemical batteries, temperatures that are too high or too low still compromise their ability to store and release energy. Cold temperature increases internal resistance and decreases capacity.
Does cold weather drain lithium batteries?
“Lithium-ion batteries suffer a lot from freezing temperatures because they have very little internal resistance,” Northeastern University’s electrical engineer told Wired Hanumant Singh.
Why does my battery drain so fast in the cold?
Most batteries are powered by an electrochemical reaction, which sends power signals to the ends of the terminal. This chemical reaction slows down when it gets colder, weakening the battery power.
How do you discharge a battery quickly?
How to drain your Android device’s battery automatically and faster than normal
- Manually drain the battery. Open most or all of your applications. Keep the screen awake. Change the screen brightness to maximum. Turn on Wi-Fi when you are out of reach of a Wi-Fi network.
- The battery runs out automatically and faster than normal.
How do you completely discharge A battery?
Turn on WiFi, Bluetooth, flashlight, and anything else you can find. Open a lot of browser tabs and apps. If you can, set the screen lock to “Never”. This will drain the battery very quickly.
How do you manually discharge A battery?
Specifically, if you want to completely discharge a typical car battery (12 V, 60 A h), all you need is a 20 ohm and 10 W (or equivalent) resistor and plug it into the battery terminals. Leave it connected for about 4 days, and with a voltmeter check that the voltage is zero.
How long does it take A battery to self discharge?
All batteries, regardless of their chemistry, will self-discharge. The self-discharge speed of lead-acid batteries depends on the storage or operating temperature. At a temperature of 80 degrees F., a lead-acid battery will self-discharge at a rate of approximately 4% per week.
What is the fastest way to discharge a lithium battery?
As SgtWookie pointed out, an incandescent bulb is a good way to discharge a battery, as its resistance decreases as the voltage drops, tending to maintain the discharge current. Just use more lights or a larger lamp for a faster discharge.
Can lithium ion batteries be fully discharged?
On the chemical side, there are a few different types of lithium ion batteries. In general, it is bad to completely discharge any lithium ion based battery chemistry, but since the MEGALiFe battery is based on LiFePO4 cells, we will focus there.
How fast can a lithium ion battery discharge?
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have a self-discharge rate that manufacturers typically indicate is 1.5-2% per month. The speed increases with the temperature and the state of charge.
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