Join the Spokane River Forum in Supporting Spokane Battery Smart Campaign

The Spokane River Forum has partnered with the City of Spokane, Spokane County, City of Spokane Fire Department, Spokane Valley Fire Department, and Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System to launch Battery Smart Spokane.

The campaign’s website and agency outreach are aimed at reducing fire risk and increasing proper disposal of hazardous waste. “Now that Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life,” said Forum Executive Director Andy Dunau, “there are public safety and environmental challenges we all have a role in stepping up to.”

If damaged, mistreated or improperly stored, Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire, and cause explosions at homes, businesses and solid waste disposal facilities. “In Spokane County we have seen an increase in fires caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion in solid waste disposal in collection trucks, at transfer stations, and at the Waste to Energy Facility,” says Deb Geiger, Regional Solid Waste Manager for Spokane County. “These fires are extremely dangerous for solid waste management workers, firefighters, and the public.”

The Battery Smart Spokane campaign provides tips and actions the public can take to prevent fires and releases of hazardous waste from lithium-ion powered tools such as cell phones, laptops, e-bikes, electric vehicles.

When buying, charging, storing, and disposing lithium-ion batteries to help prevent fires, Battery Smart Spokane recommends:

• Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling. Search for drop off locations for lithium-ion batteries on the Spokane River Forum’s online waste directory.
• Only purchase and use devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
• Use charging equipment that is compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that is supplied with your device.
• Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
• Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
• Only have device repairs performed by a qualified professional.
• Remove batteries from devices and toys before disposing safely.
• Lithium-ion batteries need to be disposed safely at household hazardous waste collection areas at the Waste to Energy Facility and Solid Waste Transfer Stations.