14 signatories, including the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), ReMA, Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), The Recycling Partnership, US Plastics Pact, Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA), Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, Canada Compost Council, US Compost Council, Zero Waste Marin, Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA), and Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency, call on manufacturers and policy makers to prioritize safety in the design, production, labeling, marketing, and management of end-of-life (EOL) consumer products with high fire or explosion risks.
Ensuring public safety and the long-term viability of waste and resource management infrastructure requires immediate action. Products at risk of ignition or explosion include those containing lithium-ion batteries, compressed gas cylinders, marine and road flares, ammunition, fireworks, and similar products. Fires caused by these products have become increasingly common in collection vehicles and at recycling facilities, landfills, transfer stations, and other facilities. These items pose a serious safety threat to the waste and resource management industry and the public.
Myriad devices containing lithium-ion batteries are in our homes—laptops, cell phones, tablets, wireless headphones, smartwatches, e-readers, portable speakers, vaping devices, power banks, power tools, gaming controllers, thermostats, electric toothbrushes, and many more. These items need special EOL collection and management. In addition, marine and road flares, compressed gas cylinders, and other items with explosive characteristics require special EOL management, but there are limited options for consumers to bring these items for proper disposal.
While these products have become ubiquitous, they have not been accompanied by plans for clear labeling or consumer education on safe handling and management, nor a well-planned EOL strategy. When these products find their way into household trash and recycling bins, they frequently become damaged and start fires and explosions in collection vehicles, transfer stations, materials recovery facilities, landfills, and waste-to-energy facilities. Policy makers and manufacturers must take urgent action to develop plans for product EOL. Employees in these vital industries are entitled to a safe working environment.
Both public and private sector operators share a widespread and growing concern about the rising costs of insurance and the risk of becoming uninsurable due to fire and safety risks. Property damage to facilities and costlier and less available insurance due to rising fire risks threaten to make it economically infeasible for continued recycling and waste operations. Operations that have sustained damage are often forced to close for extended periods of time or permanently, affecting essential local recycling and waste services. As stewards of public health and the environment, the signatories take these issues very seriously. A significant consequence is the limited availability of recycled materials needed by manufacturers—raising significant concerns at a time where we are looking to bolster domestic manufacturing.
This situation requires urgent action. The signatories are speaking up for the safety of essential workers and consumers, encouraging brands and policy makers to take prompt and effective action to prevent the rise in fires through the following steps:
- Design products with recyclability, and with batteries that may be safely removed for proper EOL management.
- Label products clearly with their hazards, including whether they contain a battery or are explosive.
- Provide clear and proper disposal or recycling instructions to prevent improper disposal and ensure that a convenient and free EOL management option is available.
- Establish and sustain collection, recycling, and/or disposal systems funding to manage these hazardous products properly.
- Cease adding new products to market that pose a danger of fire or explosion if they do not have an effective and sustainable EOL plan that has been developed in coordination with those handling such products at EOL.
The signatories encourage all stakeholders to take this issue seriously and consider taking steps to safely handle potentially dangerous products. Resources are available for education and outreach regarding proper battery recycling and the need for an international, coordinated campaign on safe and effective recycling and disposal. SWANA invites manufacturers and policy makers to join in conversations on how to promptly resolve these challenges. The demand for these products is appreciable, but they must be designed and manufactured for safe handling by industry, with EOL systems that have adequate funding and are convenient for public use.
We must do better. Together, we can solve this. Join SWANA and partners in being part of the solution.
