June - July 2021
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Li-ion is an invaluable asset with little regulation Li-ion batteries are most dangerous when their life cycle is over, according to an International Solid Waste Association report
I
f the batteries are destroyed in the process of collection, disposal or recycling or are unfavourably deformed in such a way that the positive and negative poles touch each other, a thermal runaway reaction can occur, resulting in an uncontrolled exchange of ions and the release of pure oxygen. This self-reinforcing process leads to a fire or ex-
8
safetynews.co.nz
plosion that is very difficult to control by conventional means such as water. The best solution is to cut the air supply and allow the fire to burn in a more or less controlled manner. Today, the danger posed by Li-ion batteries is becoming ever greater, the report says. Until a few years ago, Li-ion batteries were rare in waste management facilities or landfills.
But now, more and more of them are reaching the end of their life cycle and need to be disposed of. Global records and figures are scant. In Germany the number of Li-ion batteries in use tripled between 2009 and 2017 – from 3,300 to 10,000 tonnes – according to the German Federal Environment Agency. To properly assess the scale of the problem, in
October 2020 a sub-group of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation undertook research to determine the effects of this issue internationally and to see whether there were any good practice suggestions that could be adopted. An open-ended questionnaire distributed to members of both ISWA Recycling and Waste Minimisation and Hazardous Waste Working Groups drew a dozen responses, all but three from Europe. Responses confirmed that Li-ion batteries were perceived as a fire-risk source, but few respondents were able to quantify either the scale of the problem or provide evidence of incidents caused by Li-ion batteries. Assessing the scale of the problem is difficult because few countries keep comprehensive records of fires in collection vehicles or at transfer stations, sorting plants and other waste management facilities There was one recorded incident of a refuse collec-
