Can Batteries Catch Fire In The Trash. Batteries and devices that contain them need to be disposed of as e-waste or hazardous waste so they can be carefully handled to prevent these fires. In one instance from April 2011 a man accidentally burned down his familys home with nothing more than a few 9-volt batteries.
The common primary use non rechargable batteries called alkaline cells managanese dioxide and so called heavy duty batteries carbon zinc are fairly harmless and can be disposed of in the normal waste stream. Duracell also reminds battery users that there is no effective way to recycle modern alkaline batteries. If thrown away in the garbage they can start fires either at home in the trash can or even in the.
Some batteries also contain toxic metals such as cadmium lead or mercury which can pose a threat to health and the environment.
Throwing these batteries in the trash or recycling bin can lead to major fires on garbage trucks recycling trucks landfills and recycling centers. Depending on the chemistry of the battery incorrect disposal can even be dangerous. Putting rechargeable and especially lithium batteries in the garbage is an insanely bad idea said Lynn Rubinstein executive director of the Northeast Recycling Council Inc. Thrown into the trash or even the recycling bin they can cause fires at.
