We provide essential insights and resources to help you understand the common applications of lithium-ion batteries, their potential dangers, and the critical importance of proper disposal.
Our goal is to empower businesses and individuals with the knowledge they need to handle these batteries safely and responsibly, reducing environmental impact and safeguarding communities.
What are Lithium-ion Batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable power sources commonly used in devices like smartphones, laptops, and power tools. Known for their efficiency and long lifespan, they play a key role in powering modern electronics. However, they also come with safety and environmental risks, making proper handling and disposal essential.
Lithium-ion batteries cause over 50% of waste management fires.
Improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries can lead to dangerous consequences. When you toss them in a regular trash or recycling bin, they are exposed to risks of being damaged during collection and processing. Once a battery is crushed in a garbage truck or facility, it can trigger a thermal runaway reaction, reaching temperatures of over 500°C. Surrounded by flammable materials like paper and plastic, this can result in fires or explosions. In the U.S. alone, more than 2,000 such incidents occur annually, causing over $1 billion in damages. Proper handling and disposal of these batteries at certified battery drop-off locations are critical to prevent these risks.
Community & Environmental Impact
How does it affect you?
Lithium-ion battery fires can seriously impact your community in several ways. One major issue is the disruption of waste collection when recycling plants are forced to shut down. Fires in waste trucks, or ‘hot loads,’ can also lead to emergency dumping in neighborhoods, creating fire hazards close to home. These incidents release toxic pollutants that harm air quality and threaten your health. Additionally, they place extra strain on local fire departments and emergency services— all of which can be easily prevented through proper battery disposal.
Air Pollution
These batteries release harmful chemicals like heavy metals and toxic gases into the air, alongside pollutants from the surrounding burning material. These pollutants can worsen local air quality, increasing the risk of respiratory issues and long-term health problems for nearby residents.
Water Pollution
The resulting runoff from firefighting efforts can carry toxic chemicals into nearby water sources. Burning plastics, metals, and other materials release pollutants that seep into waterways and contaminate groundwater, rivers, and lakes. This can harm aquatic life and threaten drinking water supplies.
Soil Pollution
These lithium-ion battery fires release toxic chemicals like heavy metals and corrosive substances. These pollutants can seep into the soil, contaminating it and affecting plant life and local ecosystems. Over time, this contamination can degrade the quality of the land and harm wildlife.
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Proper Battery Disposal Sites
* You will be redirected to Earth911.com, a third-party website that shares no affiliation with Nexstera Tech. We do not control the content displayed on Earth911
To safely dispose of lithium-ion batteries and prevent environmental hazards, use designated drop-off sites. This link will help you find local disposal centers for batteries and electronic devices.
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