Nationwide, solid waste facilities have seen a 40% increase in reported fires over the past year due to improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.  Lithium is highly reactive and that energy can cause fires when they are broken open, damaged, or shorted.

Miami County Solid Waste and Recycling Facility has seen an increase of fires this past year due to lithium-ion batteries being discarded in the trash.  This is a serious safety issue to our staff and structures considering the types of material processed for disposal. Fires can develop very quickly inside the Solid Waste Facility due to improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

Today, lithium-ion batteries power many electronic devices, including cell phones, tablets and laptops. Always remove the batteries before recycling you electronic devices.  Please do not place lithium batteries in the trash or recycling bin. Lithium-ion batteries must have terminals taped and can be disposed of at the Miami County Recycling Center at no charge.  Big box retailers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot accept lithium-ion batteries for recycling as well.