Green for Life Environmental (GFL) and Consolidated Fire District No. 2 (CFD2) are asking customers to join them in reducing fire risks by recycling their household batteries.
Each year, discarded lithium ion and other batteries cause hundreds of fires within the solid waste collection and disposal system. These fires have destroyed trash trucks, damaged recycling facilities and endangered firefighters and solid waste workers. Fortunately, recycling those batteries can eliminate those risks.
When lithium-ion batteries are thrown in the trash, they can easily ignite when crushed, punctured or damaged in the garbage truck, causing fires that are difficult to extinguish. Lithium-ion batteries are highly efficient and rechargeable, but their design includes combustible materials that make them hazardous when damaged or improperly handled.
Our message is clear: these batteries must never be placed in waste or recycling bins.
Fortunately, area residents and businesses have convenient and safe battery recycling alternatives. For example, the City of Mission Sustainability Commission has recycled more than three tons of lithium-ion and other batteries from a collection location at the Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway Street. Other nearby locations where batteries can be dropped off for recycling can be found at https://www.recyclespot.org/.