You may be more familiar with the term ‘Rogue batteries’ but as we fast approach Halloween, and in keeping with the theme, I much prefer the term ‘Zombie batteries’. A Zombie battery is no longer required, flat or surplus to requirements, and finds it way into the waste or recycling stream.
Our modern day fast-paced lifestyles means we have a heavy reliance on technology. We are now seeing USB connectivity and gadget charge points in the public domain, wireless charging points in cars and ‘pay per charge’ banks in shopping centres. Of course, as the demand for the top tech increases, so does the demand on hi-power, long lasting batteries.
The global demand for Lithium-ion batteries has increased almost tenfold in the last 5 years and is likely to triple by 2030, especially with the increase in Electric Vehicle production. What I find incredible is that there is currently no global option for EV battery recycling.
According to YouGov research only 43% of the UK public realise that a damaged Li-ion battery can cause a fire. With the increase in demand for Li-ion batteries, it is no surprise then that these batteries have resulted in an increase in waste vehicle fires (up by 37% since 2017). They also contribute towards the 300+ fires the waste industry battles every year at an average cost to the industry of £173,000 per incident.
So why are Li-ion batteries such a problem? Well, most ‘dead’ Li-ion batteries still hold around 80% of their charge, which means they can very easily create a fire if they are physically damaged, ruptured or become exposed to water – any of these are highly likely once they enter the waste stream. If a Li-ion battery catches fire then it burns at 22000 C for several seconds to several minutes.
If a Li-ion battery catches fire then it burns at 22000 C for several seconds to several minutes
To help tackle the Li-ion battery problem, the ESA will be launching the ‘Take Charge’ campaign on Monday 26th October, which will promote and encourage the correct recycling and disposal of batteries. All five of the Battery Compliance Schemes along with WRAP have expressed support for the campaign.
Once the campaign website goes live, ESA plans to include a ‘downloads’ area where digital resources will be available including social media content, bin hanger designs, posters, stickers and logo’s etc. these will be available to partners, stake holders and local authorities with an interest in seeing more batteries recycled, which will not only aim to address the safety issues related to Zombie batteries but also the associated environmental benefits that come with recycling and material recovery.
LARAC will provide links to the ESA campaign downloads in the next edition of LOL on 4 November.
