In light of recent incidents, Nevada County officials paired with Waste Management (WM) are pushing for public awareness on the correct disposal of batteries following a series of fires. These events underscore the hazards that mismanaged batteries can pose to the community and the environment. WM reported that, in the past six months, batteries, cell phones, or other products with embedded batteries being thrown away carelessly have sparked nine fires — a concerning spike that calls for immediate action from residents.
According to Nevada County, the majority of these incidents took place at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. “Of the eight battery fires (at the transfer station) this year, five have occurred in the last month,” Alex Zalasky, District Manager for WM, said. The growing frequency and danger of such fires have moved the authorities to re-emphasize the need for proper battery recycling protocols.
Nevada County Solid Waste and WM have highlighted several convenient options available to the community for disposing of batteries safely and at no cost. These include dropping off batteries at the Household Hazardous Waste Building located on McCourtney Road, bringing e-waste to Staples on Sutton Way, or for curbside customers of WM — placing small household batteries in a plastic Ziploc bag atop the recycle cart on collection days.
With safety at the forefront, Alex Keeble-Toll, the director of the Office of Emergency Services for Nevada County, cautioned against the dangers of handling lithium-ion batteries improperly. “Improper handling can result in very problematic ignitions,” Keeble-Toll told Nevada County. Fires caused by these batteries are especially challenging due to a self-sustaining chain reaction and the release of toxic gases that imperil first responders.
Residents seeking further information on household hazardous waste disposal can reach out to Nevada County Solid Waste via email at [email protected], their website, or by calling 530-265-7111.
