Fire marshal, waste collection manager discuss lithium-ion battery danger | Select | norfolkdailynews.com

As lithium-ion battery usage continues to rise, residents are asked to be aware of the dangers that come with them.

There are two types of lithium batteries, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that consumers use and need to manage at the end of their useful life: Single-use, non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries and rechargeable lithium-polymer cells.

Single-use batteries are commonly used in products such as cameras, watches, remote controls, handheld games and smoke detectors. These batteries may be difficult to distinguish from common alkaline battery sizes, according to the EPA, but also can have specialized shapes (button cells or coin batteries) for specific equipment, such as some types of cameras.

Users should look for the word "lithium" on the battery to help identify them.

Rechargeable lithium polymer cells are commonly found in cellphones, power tools, digital cameras, laptops, children's toys, e-cigarettes, small and large appliances, tablets and e-readers. Some of these batteries can be removed easily from the products they power, while others cannot.

And while lithium-ion batteries are useful, they can be hazardous if they overheat. Fire departments nationwide have published warnings about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries.

Norfolk fire marshal Sean Lindgren said the fire division's experience is that problems arise when a device itself or the lithium-ion battery inside the device is damaged. Firefighters have encountered damaged batteries in portable power tools and electric scooters and bikes, Lindgren said.

According to the New York Fire Department, damaged or unstable batteries and improper charging, storage or disposal could cause the batteries to overheat, leading to an explosive, aggressive fire that spreads rapidly, could reignite and is challenging to extinguish.

There's also a chance that if a cellphone or laptop is overcharged and heat is not allowed to dissipate, a fire could ignite.

"Always let heat dissipate from a device by not having it on a bed or overstuffed chair or under blankets; that contains the heat," Lindgren said. "It's best if there is air flow under and around the device."

Lithium-ion battery fires are dangerous, as water may not prevent a battery from burning and spreading. Battery cells are known to explode and quickly spread to another battery, leading the fire to spread to other devices. These batteries may continue to generate heat even when there is no visible sign of fire.

Once heat reaches a certain level, fire may reignite on the battery and surrounding area. Further, fire extinguishers do not work on lithium-ion battery fires, and lithium-ion batteries have to be cooled for a long period of time with water.

Lindgren said he has seen instructional videos that show an expansive explosion when lithium-ion battery devices fail.

"They can throw arcs and sparks a considerable distance around them," he said. "It's a good idea to get away from it right away and call 911."

Reignition of lithium-ion batteries is common, and such batteries are known to unexpectedly reignite without warning — hours and even days after all visible fire has been put out.

Nationwide, it is not uncommon for fire departments to have to extinguish garbage truck or bin fires ignited by lithium-ion batteries. This can happen when the batteries are crushed or if the terminals touch other metal. Lindgren said this is why it's important to properly dispose of these batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries should be taken to a household hazardous waste collection point such as the Norfolk transfer station located at 610 E. Monroe Ave. They should not be thrown in the trash or recycled.

Dean Balderston is the Norfolk site manager of Waste Connections of Nebraska, which offers trash collection services in Northeast Nebraska. Waste Connections has had several fires in its trucks over the past few years because of lithium-ion batteries. Two of the fires nearly resulted in the company losing a truck.

The unfortunate thing about these batteries, Balderston said, is that users do not want to take them to the transfer station and instead throw the batteries in the trash.

"When we pick up the trash, we do not spend the time to sort through each and every bag that goes into the truck," Balderston said. "Ultimately, the government needs to ban them and find an alternative that can be safely disposed of. They are so hard to track back to an individual that fining people for throwing them away is not a viable option."

Balderston acknowledged, though, that lithium-ion batteries being banned is unlikely; in fact, they are anticipated to become more prominent as electric vehicles grow in popularity in some areas.

He also pointed to the use of lithium-ion batteries in vapes, which are commonly found in students' possession in schools. His fear is that the seemingly increasing popularity of vapes and their improper disposal could result in more fires in homes, landfills and garbage trucks.

Lindgren said it's important for people to follow the manufacturer's recommendations in devices that are powered by lithium-ion batteries, especially when it comes to charging them.

"If anything is damaged or if anything is bulging, deformed, discolored or leaking, dispose of that right away," he said.

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