Lithium-ion batteries are still a danger, even in the trash [Lancaster Watchdog]

• By Tom Lisi/ LNP | LancasterOnline

More likely than not, somewhere near you is a battery that has the power to set a relentless fire that can’t be extinguished with water alone.

That’s the reality of lithium-ion batteries, which today are more prevalent than ever. Cellphones, earbuds, smartwatches — they all could initiate chemical reactions that ignite serious fires that require special chemicals to extinguish.

They also can explode. And the batteries are getting bigger, powering cordless tools, vacuums, electric bikes and scooters. The bigger they get, the more danger they pose.

While the batteries are generally safe when used as designed, bad things happen when they’re mishandled or broken, which happens quite a bit when they’re hauled away with residential garbage.

The number of fires at the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority’s dumping station at 1299 Harrisburg Pike has shot up in the last couple years.

Last year, authority staff put out 30 fires, and most, if not all of them were caused by lithium-ion batteries. So far in 2024, the authority has already dealt with 27 fires, officials said.

“This was not really an issue on anyone’s radar even four of five years ago,” said Bob Zorbaugh, the authority’s co-CEO. “But it has gotten on the waste industry’s radar.”

It’s a big enough problem that property insurance carriers have demanded expensive firefighting capabilities for waste facilities, said co-CEO Dan Youngs. The authority recently invested $10.4 million to mitigate the risk and qualify for insurance coverage, authority leaders said.

The problem is among the authority’s most pressing, and officials are trying to mitigate the problem by educating Lancaster County residents about the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries, and batteries in general.

People need to know: Batteries don’t go in the trash.

Lithium-ion 101

Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized electronics and increasingly transportation, packing a lot of power into a small space. The chemistry and design of the batteries allow them to be recharged many times before they degrade.

But that dense energy also makes them hazardous when they are physically damaged or exposed to heat.

Lithium-ion batteries do not ignite like, say, wood, which burns with oxygen-fed flames. Firefighters can use water to extinguish a wood fire by preventing oxygen in the air from feeding the flames.

Lithium-ion batteries flame up, or even explode, through a chemical feedback loop known as “thermal runaway.” When the battery gets too hot, it causes a chemical chain reaction. That can happen through a short-circuit or some other source of overheating.

So getting lithium-ion batteries near heat or breaking them is very risky. When the battery’s structure is compromised, a solvent in the battery used to prevent an electrical short can leak out. The result is often smoldering, flames or an outright explosion.

When that happens in the garbage stream, other trash can catch fire. That has led to damaged garbage trucks and costly investments to put out the fires, making trash collection a more expensive business.

The right way

Because of the risks involved, batteries require special care in disposal.

Batteries can be put in a bag and dropped off at the waste authority’s drive-thru household hazardous waste facility on Harrisburg Pike. The service is free.

Note that battery terminals — the metal teeth that snap into place on devices — can cause fires if they connect inside a bag. To prevent that, tape up the terminals.

Several big-box stores, including Home Depot, Lowe’s and Staples, have recycling programs for lithium-ion batteries. Locations that offer that service can be found at call2recycle.org.

Some garbage haulers in the area also will accept bagged lithium-ion batteries left on the curb, but customers should check with their hauler first, said Kelly Morris, recycling manager for the waste authority.

A new problem

Ebikes have exploded in popularity the last few years, and they’ve also literally exploded. The issue has made headlines in places like New York City, where fires caused by bike batteries have set apartment complexes ablaze.

And their size makes them a significant danger. But it’s been only five or so years since ebikes have hit retail and online stores. There just aren’t that many old, spent ebike batteries that need to be recycled or disposed of yet, said Michael Farrington, owner of Green Mountain Cyclery in Ephrata.

But it’s only a matter of time, and right now there aren’t a lot of clear answers on what to do with them.

The county waste authority does not accept ebike batteries because they’re big and too dangerous for their facilities to manage, officials said.

Trek, one of Green Mountain Cyclery’s main suppliers, approached the store about arranging a way for the store to ship unwanted batteries to a reputable recycler, Farrington said.

The store is prepared to take batteries from longtime patrons or customers who bought their ebike at Green Mountain, the owner said, and may also take some other ebike batteries too.

The store accepts old batteries on a case-by-case basis, Farrington said, because not all ebike batteries are created equal.

Most of the ebikes sold in the U.S. to date, especially in the first few years, came from unregulated products overseas.

“You can go on Ali Baba right now and order a container of electric scooters and have them delivered to your doorstep, and other than getting through customs, there’s no standard,” said Farrington, referring to the Chinese ecommerce site. Amazon also sells cheaper, factory-direct ebikes and scooters that may not follow safety standards for batteries.

More reputable makers use batteries that have received a UL certification, a safety standard for many products sold in the U.S.

But a damaged battery is too big a danger for Green Mountain to deal with, Farrington said. “We don’t have the kind of facilities for that.”

One option for recycling damaged ebike batteries is to buy a kit for damaged, defective or recalled battery packaging, known as a DDR kit, according to the Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency. Those are available for sale at call2recycle.org. Kits include special fire suppressant minerals and shipping instructions.

But a more comprehensive solution may be needed in the coming years.

For now, the wider public needs to be more aware of how to handle and dispose of lithium-ion batteries, officials said.

“Don’t ignore the issue, because some people may have some batteries that are no good, leave them down in the basement, eventually something could happen,” Zorbaugh said. “If you’re not using them, your best bet is to get rid of them.”