GIBSONTON, Fla. — For people gifted new electronics this holiday season, Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management officials say certain steps may need to be taken before old electronics are tossed out.
The county is urging residents to be careful with lithium-ion batteries, which can cause fires if they are not disposed of properly.
What You Need To Know
The county is urging residents to be careful with lithium-ion batteries, which can cause fires if they are not properly disposed of
Residents can throw away items with lithium-ion batteries, or the batteries themselves, at any of the five drop-off spots in Hillsborough County
Officials say alkaline batteries are the the only kind that can be safely thrown away with normal trash.
“These are some examples of items you might have around your house, anything you can plug in at home that is a rechargeable device from your Alexa speakers and your power tools, your gaming equipment, your cell phones, all this stuff has rechargeable batteries in it,” said Daniel Gallagher, a project manager at Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management.
Gallagher said he’s trying to get the word out on just how dangerous items with lithium-ion batteries can be in a garbage truck.
“Unfortunately, they’re ending up in the trash or the recycling bin where they end up in the back of the truck,” he said. “They get punctured, they get damaged, they touch other batteries, and they can spark and start a fire.”
Spectrum News/Fallon Silcox
He shared photos of Hillsborough County garbage trucks that caught on fire where lithium-ion batteries were the suspected culprits. Gallagher said there have been more than 30 fires just in the past couple of years.
“It really only takes one lithium-ion battery to start a fire,” he said. “And, so, it’s really important to properly dispose of your batteries. Come bring them to us and we will recycle them responsibly.”
Residents can do that by visiting any of the five drop-off spots in Hillsborough County. County residents can also find a retailer that accepts the batteries by visiting Hillsborough County’s website.
A Hillsborough County garbage truck is seen in the aftermath of a fire that officials say was likely caused by a lithium-ion battery that was not disposed of properly. (Photo: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue)
Gallagher said that by taking one extra step, residents can keep their communities safe.
“Protect your community, protect solid waste workers, and dispose of your batteries properly,” he said.
Gallagher said that most counties offer similar programs. Hillsborough County officials say alkaline batteries are the only kind that can be safely thrown away with normal trash.