This report from the EPA was written to explore the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in the waste management process. It looks at publicly available information on fires caused by improperly disposed of LIBs. It is not a complete data set but provides useful insights and is a starting point for better understanding emerging issues.
The picture it provides indicates that LIB fires are happening across the full spectrum of the waste management process, but MRFs (material recovery facilities in the US context) appear to have faced the most negative impacts. Of the facilities the EPA found to have experienced an LIB fire in the past seven years, 78% of MRFs have had to call emergency responders at least once, as opposed to 40% of landfills. Close to half (43%) of the MRFs that experienced fires have faced monetary impacts.
Among the cases the EPA compiled, MRFs also had the highest incidence of service disruption (39%).
The EPA notes that due to increased consumer adoption of portable electronics, LIBs will only continue to become more prevalent in the waste management process and incidents such as these could also increase. It notes that through increased collaboration between and action by consumers, industry, and regulators, approaches to safely managing these batteries could be evaluated and implemented.
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