Rumpke warns of hazards of battery disposal

Rumpke, the waste hauler for Richfield, reminds residents that battery-related fires pose a significant and unnecessary safety risk to waste management employees and first responders.

 Lithium-ion batteries power rechargeable devices like cell phones, power tools and laptops. The chemicals within the batteries are highly flammable and are considered hazardous household waste.

During transportation or processing, used batteries can explode and create destructive fires. In 2023, Rumpke faced 98 battery fires at its recycling facilities and 75 truckload fires.

The easiest way to prevent battery-related fires is to avoid putting used batteries or electronics into your trash or curbside-recycling bin. Instead, collect your “dead” batteries and take them to a designated drop-off location.

Richfield residents can drop off batteries at ReWorks, the solid waste management authority for Summit County. Collections are taken every Thursday, 2-7 p.m., from June 6 through Sept. 26.

According to the website, call2recycle.org, the Staples store in Montrose will accept all batteries and Lowes and Home Depot will accept rechargeable batteries.

Prevent battery-related fires at home by storing batteries in a non-conductive container or original packaging, keep them away from humidity and extreme temperatures and avoid mixing new and old batteries. ∞