Celebrate National Battery Day By Safely Managing Used Batteries

Recycling facilities, landfills, garbage trucks, and other parts of the waste and recycling industry in Wisconsin are experiencing frequent and sometimes devastating fires.

While it can be hard to determine the cause of each fire, studies have shown rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are often to blame. If damaged by equipment in waste trucks or facilities, these batteries can spark or produce enough heat to ignite surrounding materials. These fires put workers and firefighters at risk, in addition to causing millions of dollars in damage. 

Feb. 18 is National Battery Day, and it’s a great time to learn more about how to safely manage your household batteries. You can help prevent fires like these by following these steps: 

• Never put batteries or electronics in your recycling bin or cart.
• Take rechargeable batteries to a recycling drop-off site, like a hardware store or local recycling center.
• E-Cycle your electronic devices through E-Cycle Wisconsin. Many sites accept electronics like laptops and cell phones for free. 

To learn more and find recycling locations, you can visit the Wisconsin DNR’s electronics and battery recycling webpage.