18-02-2025
Proper battery disposal the focus in Brown County on National Battery Day
(WFRV) – February 18 is National Battery Day and officials in Brown County say it is an opportunity to talk about how to properly dispose of batteries as well as the dangers of improper battery disposal.
According to a release from the Brown County Port and Resource Recovery Department, proper battery disposal is very important as safely disposing of a battery helps prevent fires that are reportedly happening more often in homes and at waste handling sites.
Officials say that a battery, no matter the size or charge, is capable of starting a fire in any home, landfill, or material recovery facility.
We often think that because a battery is 'dead' its power has completely drained. However, even an exhausted battery still has the potential to overheat and combust if damaged. It's a major fire hazard and an expensive problem we've been dealing with across the country.
Chris Blan, Brown County Resource Recovery Technician
A great way to prevent fires is said to include becoming familiar with common household batteries and battery-containing devices.
Officials say that a lot of common household batteries include button cell, AA, AAA, C, D, and F, as well as nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride, lithium-ion, or any rechargeable battery.
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Battery-containing devices are devices that the battery inside the device is not designed to be removeable and the device should be disposed of with the battery. This includes devices like phones, electronic toothbrushes, power banks, and more.
Thanks to the Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department, safely disposing of batteries is reportedly easy and affordable as the Hazardous Material Recovery facility accepts batteries and battery-containing devices for free from Brown County residents and for a small fee from non-county residents.
It can be easy to forget how dangerous improper battery disposal can be. That's why National Battery Day is so important– it gives us the opportunity to spread the word about just how crucial proper battery disposal is and that it can prevent expensive battery fires.
Mark Walter, Brown County Resource Recovery Business Development Manager
The Hazardous Material Recovery facility, on 2561 South Broadway in Ashwaubenon, is open to the public on Tuesdays from 9:0 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Thursdays from noon to 6:00 p.m.
For more information on proper battery disposal or other acceptable hazardous materials, click here.
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