Beginning July 1, New Hampshire will enforce a new statewide ban on the disposal of lithium-ion batteries in landfills and incinerators in response to a growing number of fires caused by improper battery disposal.
The batteries—commonly found in smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, lawn tools, toys, and various household gadgets—pose serious fire and safety risks when thrown in the trash or curbside recycling bins. The law comes after incidents like a fire at the Keene Transfer Station, believed to have been started by a lithium-ion battery.
According to the Town of Swanzey, the ban applies to batteries found in electronics, handheld devices, electric vehicles, power tools, and even items like toothbrushes, headphones, and cameras. Residents are urged to properly recycle these batteries and notify staff if a battery is damaged or swollen, as these are especially hazardous.
The new rule, passed under House Bill 1386, was introduced by State Rep. Karen Ebel and signed by Governor Chris Sununu. It reflects mounting concerns from waste haulers, regulators, and local officials, with the National Waste and Recycling Association estimating over 5,000 fires per year at U.S. waste facilities are linked to lithium-ion batteries.
Under the law, households and businesses must recycle lithium-ion batteries through approved collection programs, such as:
-
Staples
-
Best Buy
-
BatteriesPlus
-
Local transfer and recycling stations
These batteries should never be placed in household trash or regular recycling bins.
For help identifying lithium-ion batteries or locating recycling centers:
-
Visit Call2Recycle.org
-
Contact your town’s transfer station
-
Email [email protected] or call (603) 271-2047
-
Businesses can call the Hazardous Waste Helpline at 1-866-HAZ-WAST
The ban aims to protect waste workers, facilities, and the environment by ensuring the safe handling of these powerful and potentially dangerous batteries.
Leave a Reply