Today, February 18, 2022 is National Battery Day. The Streets Division would like to take this day to remind residents to recycle their household batteries the right way to prevent fires.

How to Recycle Batteries
Batteries never belong in your recycling cart.

Residents looking to recycle their batteries can take them to a Streets Division drop-off site and place them in the battery recycling area. Batteries are accepted from Madison residents at no charge at the sites. Be sure you check the drop-off website hours and which location is open before loading your vehicle.

Before you bring batteries to a drop-off site, be sure you are following the steps on the Streets Division’s page on how to prepare the lithium and nickel batteries you have for recycling.

There are private companies may offer battery recycling as well, though you may wish to call them before arriving to check on any applicable fees. Check the Call2Recycle website to find a location.

Can Batteries Really Cause Fires?
Lithium batteries in particular can be dangerous and lead to fires.

The Streets Division had two recycling truck fires in 2021. While the cause for those fires was not determined, fires from lithium batteries incorrectly included with recyclables are increasingly common.

According to a report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there have been 245 fires at waste facilities from 2013 to 2021 that are attributable to lithium batteries – and this number may be low.

Additional Information
For more information about electronics recycling and battery recycling for City of Madison residents, visit the Streets Division’s website, www.cityofmadison.com/streets.