In recent years, sorting and recycling centres have had to deal with a new type of electrical and electronic waste: lithium batteries. These batteries, which are used in many devices, have a limited service life. When they are dead, or no longer work because of an incident, they must not be thrown away with household waste.
They contain :
- lithium, which is highly reactive – particularly in contact with water or if the ambient temperature is high – and presents a fire risk ;
- various components (plastics, solvents, electronic compounds, for example) that can be recycled or need to be treated in a specific way to avoid pollution.
Recycling them is therefore both an environmental and an economic issue. But it’s not that simple. In particular, the storage of damaged or worn-out lithium batteries must be carried out with care because of the risk of fire and pollution. Despite the precautions taken by sorting centres, the number of fires has increased in recent years. Accidents with far-reaching consequences that raise many questions…
Batteries now widely used
Lithium batteries are used in a wide range of devices and equipment that are used on a daily or more occasional basis, such as :
- Smart phones ;
- Computers;
- Video game consoles
- Electric two-wheeled vehicles (bicycles, scooters, etc.)
- Vehicles of all sizes;
- Handling equipment (e.g. forklift trucks)…
The size and weight of each device varies – 100 to 200 g for a smartphone compared to 2 to 5 kg for a bicycle – but the problem of recycling them remains the same. It is still a real technical challenge because they contain different materials that have to be separated and then treated differently. Not to mention the fire risks associated with their storage, which sorting and recycling centres have to deal with.
More fires in sorting and recycling centres
In October 2021, the newspaper Les Echos devoted an article* to the thorny problem of lithium battery fires in sorting and recycling centres. As the association of companies in the sector, Federec, told the journalist, these fires are on the increase because:
- Longer waste storage times;
- Higher summer temperatures;
- Increased availability of lithium batteries for recycling.
Another issue raised in this article is the conditions in which these batteries are transported and stored, which can damage them. When this happens, the lithium they contain can come into contact with water. This releases hydrogen, a highly flammable gas. This explains the many fires that have occurred during rainy summers in France and elsewhere in Europe.
In view of this situation, Federec considers it necessary to:
- Consider sorting and recycling centres as priority locations;
- Familiarise firefighters with their sites to facilitate their intervention;
- Step up prevention campaigns aimed at the general public to inform them of the dangers of lithium and the availability of special collection points;
- Rely on the eco-design of equipment by manufacturers.
While waiting for better ways to collect this waste, sorting and recycling centres are trying to adapt and find solutions to prevent and manage fire risks.