Disposing of Lithium-Ion Batteries Safely Can Help Prevent Fires

By Jenny Liang Two years ago, Lake Forest’s Compost & Recycling Center launched a new Battery Recycling Program aimed at helping residents safely dispose of their lithium-ion batteries. 

Often concealed in everyday items such as electronics, children’s toys, and power tools, lithium-ion batteries -- when thrown in the trash without proper disposal -- can spark fires in garbage trucks and dumpsters. In fact, lithium-ion batteries thrown in the trash have caused three fires in Lake Forest in just the last few months.

Lake Forest’s Compost & Recycling Center lets residents safely dispose of lithium-ion batteries. “Some people don’t realize they have lithium batteries in an object, so they just throw it out,” Sanitation Supervisor Brian Pogachnik explained. “When the batteries get crushed in the trucks and there’s a spark, they will catch fire, and they won’t go out just by dousing them with water.

“If a truck catches fire, we dump the load immediately,” Pogachnik added. “Then we call the fire department to extinguish the fire.”

To combat the risks of lithium-ion batteries, the Lake Forest Fire Department recommends carefully checking household items for such batteries before throwing them away. If an item does contain lithium-ion, Lake Forest residents are encouraged to drop it off at the Compost & Recycling Center located at 1381 W. Kennedy Road.

“We’ll then go through them and dispose of them correctly,” said Pogachnik, who noted that the City of Lake Forest partners with Call2Recycle to properly recycle the batteries.

To help prevent a fire in your home or neighborhood, the Lake Forest Fire Department encourages you to follow these safety tips:

RECYCLE batteries responsibly. Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or your curbside recycling bin. Instead, drop them off at the Compost & Recycling Center, which accepts batteries for safe disposal.

BUY only safety-certified products. Look for certification marks like UL, ETL, or CSA when buying products with lithium-ion batteries. These marks indicate the product meets recognized safety standards.

CHARGE devices safely. Use the charging cables provided by the manufacturer and follow all instructions. Avoid overcharging and always charge devices on a hard surface—not on a bed or couch.

STOP using any battery that smells strange, becomes hot, makes popping noises, or changes shape or color. If it is safe, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 9-1-1.

Common household items that use lithium-ion batteries include:

• E-bikes

• Hoverboards

• Tablets

• Cordless vacuum cleaners

• E-vehicles

• Power tools

• Mobile phones

• Remote control cars

• E-scooters

• Laptops

• E-cigarettes / Vapes

• Drones

• Smart watches

• Headphones

• Children’s toys

As many common items are powered by lithium-ion batteries, it is incredibly important to keep our community safe by never throwing batteries in the trash.

For more detailed information regarding what batteries are accepted and proper disposal instructions, check out the battery recycling presentation guide that provides an overview with pictures and step-by-step instructions.