October might be all about the spooky season, but Wake County is sending a clear message to its residents: the real horror would be a house fire caused by misuse of lithium-ion batteries. As part of Fire Prevention Week, Wake County officials are emphasizing the critical importance of adopting a careful approach towards the powerful, ubiquitous cells that juice up our everyday devices. They're advocating for a mantra of "Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safely," guiding principles aimed at lessening the odds of fire-related incidents.
Don Mial, Vice Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, pointed out these batteries "are powerful and convenient," and that they're lurking in myriad household gadgets from phones to power tools to toys, their energy-dense nature makes them particularly prone to overheating, catching fire, or even exploding when not handled with due care, according to a statement obtained by Wake County's news release.
Wake County is providing guidance on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries. Residents are advised to purchase batteries approved by recognized testing laboratories and to use only the chargers and cords supplied or approved by the manufacturer.
When batteries reach the end of their life, proper recycling is required. They should not be thrown in the trash or with regular recyclables. Lithium-ion batteries can be taken to household hazardous waste facilities, including North Wake, South Wake, and East Wake facilities, as well as Holly Springs Public Works and Town Hall. Before recycling, battery terminals should be covered with tape to help prevent fires.
