Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte have issued a call to residents, urging the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries to prevent fires. These batteries, which are found in common household items ranging from calculators and scooters to power drills, have been linked to over two dozen fires this year alone—fires that ignited within the waste processing system. "A $5 item could result in thousands of dollars of damages to our processing facilities and equipment if it’s not properly disposed of,” Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Director Jeff Smithberger stated in a release obtained by MeckNC.gov.
The potential risk extends beyond monetary losses, with concerns about the safety of staff, first responders, and even the broader community. “If a fire catches, not only does it put the safety of the driver in question and cause damage to the vehicle, it can spread in your neighborhood, endanger families, and trigger an emergency response," said Esperanza Dash, of City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services in a statement to MeckNC.gov.
These types of batteries include single-use or rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-Ion) and nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) varieties. They are often improperly disposed of in garbage or recycling bins, where they can become compressed and quickly turn into a fire hazard. To battle this issue, the county has specified drop-off locations that are fully equipped to process these batteries safely.
Residents are encouraged to never place batteries in curbside carts, but instead drop them off at any of the following locations: Compost Central, Foxhole Disposal and Recycling Center, Hickory Grove Recycling Center, North Mecklenburg Recycling Center, and the William R. Davie Staffed Recycling Center. Each of these facilities, which are open Monday-Saturday, can properly handle the batteries, and the collected items are then processed by specialty firms or disposed of in a hazardous waste landfill.
On September 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, Compost Central will also host a take-back event where residents can bring unwanted recyclables—this includes lithium-ion batteries, working electronics, sensitive paper documents, and textiles for proper disposal.
