Hillsborough County is stepping up its game in tackling an invisible menace that's causing very visible problems – lithium-ion batteries sparking fires in garbage and recycling trucks. According to a recent report by Hillsborough County Solid Waste, the area has witnessed over three dozen of these fires in the past three years. It's a statistic that paints a dangerous picture not just for waste management personnel, but also for the community at large.
The culprit behind these fires can be as innocuous as the batteries powering our daily gadgets – from smartphones to scooters. And with the proliferation of these devices, more batteries than ever are ending up where they shouldn't. Identifying a critical gap in public awareness, Hillsborough County Solid Waste, in partnership with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and regional stakeholders, has initiated the Fire Prevention & Battery Recovery Campaign, launched in October 2025.
This six-month educational onslaught is leveraging every medium from podcasts to billboards to social networks, ensuring the message of safe battery disposal is heard far and wide. The campaign seeks to drill into residents the importance of dropping off lithium-ion batteries at the right spots, sparing the garbage or recycling bin for those regular alkaline AA or AAA batteries that can be safely trashed.
For those looking to unload old batteries responsibly, there's a lineup of free drop-off points detailed in the campaign. Hillsborough County residents face no charge at the local Solid Waste Community Collection Centers or the monthly Household Hazardous Waste events, provided they bring a photo ID with a county address. Those in the periphery are directed to their respective county's hazardous waste program. As for lithium-ion batteries, two simple steps ensure they reach their final resting place without incident: taping the terminals and bagging each in its own plastic sanctuary, safeguarding the journey from home to disposal site.
More information on battery disposal guidelines and educational resources from this initiative can be accessed on Hillsborough County Solid Waste's dedicated campaign page.
