The NWRA and its Florida Chapter are calling on the Florida Legislature to take decisive action to address the alarming rise in fires caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries. As battery-powered devices become more common in households statewide, battery-related fires in waste and recycling operations are increasing at an unprecedented rate.
Across Florida, waste and recycling companies are reporting more incidents of fires ignited by lithium-ion batteries discarded in household trash or curbside recycling bins. These fires put frontline workers at risk, damage expensive equipment, disrupt essential services, and strain local fire and emergency-response agencies.
鈥淚mproperly disposed lithium-ion batteries are causing fires in collection trucks, recycling facilities, and landfills across the country, putting our workers, first responders, and neighbors at risk and driving up costs for communities nationwide,鈥� said NWRA President and CEO, Michael E. Hoffman. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e partnering to launch the 鈥楽kip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!鈥� campaign featuring Woodsy Owl beginning in January. It will take public education and legislation like the Safe Battery Collection & Recovery Act to keep batteries out of household trash and recycling to prevent dangerous fires, protect vital services, and keep our communities safer and cleaner for everyone.鈥�
To address this growing threat, NWRA is urging lawmakers to pass the Safe Battery Collection & Recovery Act, legislation that would modernize Florida鈥檚 20-year-old statutes governing battery disposal. The bill provides a comprehensive update to state law and establishes a statewide framework to keep dangerous batteries out of garbage and recycling containers.
The Safe Battery Collection & Recovery Act would:
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Update outdated statutory definitions to reflect modern battery chemistry and consumer use
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Establish clear disposal requirements for lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Expand safe collection opportunities for consumers
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Strengthen statewide public education efforts about proper battery disposal
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Reduce fire risks at waste and recycling facilities, protecting workers and communities
鈥淓arlier this year, I learned just how serious this issue is. You cannot simply throw batteries in the trash. Under current Florida law, it is already illegal to discard nickel-cadmium or small, sealed lead-acid rechargeable batteries or any products containing those batteries in the garbage,鈥� said Senator Stan McClain (R-Ocala).
鈥淚t鈥檚 time for Florida鈥檚 battery-disposal statutes, now more than 20 years old, to be updated. They were written long before lithium-ion batteries became standard in nearly every device we use,鈥� said Rep. Richard Gentry (R-DeBary). 鈥淲e need to modernize these laws, so they are clear, consistent, and reflective of today鈥檚 technology. People need to know that no batteries of any kind belong in household garbage鈥攏ot small ones, not big ones, not rechargeable ones, and not single-use ones.鈥�
鈥淲ith the Safe Battery Collection & Recovery Act, Florida has the opportunity to implement a commonsense, bipartisan solution that will immediately reduce battery-related fires,鈥� Dawn McCormick, WM Florida and NWRA Florida Chapter chair added. 鈥淥ur members strongly support this bill because it will save lives, protect infrastructure, and create a safer waste and recycling system for everyone.鈥�