For Immediate Release
June 14, 2023
Contact:
Mia Roethlein, Environmental Analyst, Solid Waste Program
Department of Environmental Conservation
802-522-5926, Mia.Roethlein@vermont.gov
Josh Kelly, Solid Waste Program Manager
Department of Environmental Conservation
802-522-5897, Josh.Kelly@vermont.gov
Montpelier, Vt. – In the past year, several battery fires have occurred at transfer stations throughout the Northeast. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that lithium-ion batteries caused over 240 fires at 64 facilities between 2013 and 2020. Common sources included consumer devices like cell phones, tablets, laptops, hoverboards, and e-cigarettes.
To help solid waste and recycling workers safely collect batteries and reduce the risk of fires, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Solid Waste Program has spent $160,000 to purchase and distribute battery collection safety kits to over 160 public and private transfer stations and Household Hazardous Waste facilities. The kits include fire shield blankets, gloves, and packaging to handle and mail back damaged or defective batteries for recycling.
“With the growth of batteries, it is important that both consumers and solid waste managers have the tools to safely and effectively handle them before they pose a fire risk,” says DEC Commissioner John Beling. “Our department has partnered with Call2Recycle, to help get safe battery collection and recycling supplies in place as waste materials continue to change.”
DEC is also providing battery safety training in partnership with Call2Recycle, which operates the Vermont battery recycling program on behalf of battery and product manufacturers.
Consumers are encouraged to safely recycle their leftover single-use and rechargeable batteries at one of 150 battery recycling collection locations in Vermont. If a consumer has a bulging or damaged battery, they should immediately contact their local solid waste management entity to get the damaged battery to a facility that can store and recycle it safely.
“Lithium and lithium-ion batteries are important technology for modern life but must be stored and handled properly to prevent damage,” said Mia Roethlein with the DEC Solid Waste Program. “By collecting these batteries for special recycling, we can protect the environment and human health and capture valuable natural resources.”
To learn more about battery recycling, go to call2recycle.org/vermont. For questions on special battery recycling or other household or business waste, please contact the DEC Solid Waste Program at vtrecycles.com or call Mia Roethlein at 802-522-5926 or Josh Kelly at 802-522-5897.
What a joke, you can’t put out a EV lithium battery fire they have to burn all combustible material before the fire goes out. Are they going to these safe centers when no longer holding a charge? A government promise is worth about the same as a Iranian Rial…
The weakness of the Iran rial is due to illegal US sanctions, aiming to castrate a very old country very rich in natural resources
The Chinese yuan will be the currency of the existing 5 BRICS countries and the at least 25 applicants.
Together, they represent 60% of the WORLD GROSS PRODUCT
Almost all trade between these countries will be in yuans, instead of dollars
Yes Willem with 24 countries now aligning with “BRICS” the dollar is set to fall as a world leading currency thanks to the shortsightedness of our corrupt government. Putin plays chess while biden fiddles to our financial collapse. Of course it’s probably the plan of the potato heads sting pullers all along to destroy capitalism and make the USA a third world country. Viva the climate hoax!!!!