Waste Fires Caused by Damaged Batteries are on the Increase
The WEEE Forum and EuRic published a report on the 26th May 2020 which suggested within the WEEE management chain the number of fires caused by damaged batteries is increasing.
Responses to the EU-wide survey suggest the number of both recurrent fires and severe fires is increasing, with mixed WEEE the most affected waste stream, and damaged batteries being the main cause of those fires. Although the responses suggest such events occurred at every step of the WEEE collection and treatment chain, the findings indicated a higher proportion occurred at the shredding stage in the course of treatment and storage at the logistics and pre-treatment stages.
Of concern is the study revealed of the regular small thermal events that occurred in 2018, the average cost was €190,000. Of the most severe thermal events in the last 4 years the average cost of damages was reported to be €1.3 million.
One concerning statistic which may signify the surge in waste fires on a national level is fires in Veolia’s refuse trucks has increased 37.5% since 2017, with Li-ion batteries being blamed for the majority of this increase.
Responses to the EU-wide survey suggest the number of both recurrent fires and severe fires is increasing, with mixed WEEE the most affected waste stream, and damaged batteries being the main cause of those fires. Although the responses suggest such events occurred at every step of the WEEE collection and treatment chain, the findings indicated a higher proportion occurred at the shredding stage in the course of treatment and storage at the logistics and pre-treatment stages.
Of concern is the study revealed of the regular small thermal events that occurred in 2018, the average cost was €190,000. Of the most severe thermal events in the last 4 years the average cost of damages was reported to be €1.3 million.
One concerning statistic which may signify the surge in waste fires on a national level is fires in Veolia’s refuse trucks has increased 37.5% since 2017, with Li-ion batteries being blamed for the majority of this increase.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) Batteries
Li-ion batteries are used in many different electronic products and are one of the most common types of rechargeable battery.
Li-ion batteries are believed to be the main culprit in the increase in electronic fires, this is because if they are damaged, overheat, or are short-circuited they can catch fire or blow up. An example to illustrate this point is earlier this year 75 square meters of a farm near Leeds was set on fire as a result of copper in a pedometer battery reacting to dry hay and dung.
Li-ion batteries are believed to be the main culprit in the increase in electronic fires, this is because if they are damaged, overheat, or are short-circuited they can catch fire or blow up. An example to illustrate this point is earlier this year 75 square meters of a farm near Leeds was set on fire as a result of copper in a pedometer battery reacting to dry hay and dung.
Eunomia Assembles Consortium
On the 3rd September 2020, Eunomia announced it has brought together a consortium to assess the costs associated with fires caused by Li-ion batteries and possible measures to prevent such fires happening by considering how they can be prevented from entering the waste stream.
It is claimed the average person in the UK throws away 23.9kg of electronic waste every year. Li-ion batteries in small electronic equipment are likely to be incorrectly thrown into normal recycling or residual waste bins when batteries should be removed if practical and safe, or the whole item should be disposed at small WEEE battery recycling points. Consumers might not even realise a product has a Li-ion battery in it – the battery in a singing birthday card, for example, can cause a serious hazard if disposed of in the recycling system for highly combustible paper and card.
See also:
https://www.eunomia.co.uk/consortium-researching-costs-and-solutions-to-battery-powered-waste-fires/
It is claimed the average person in the UK throws away 23.9kg of electronic waste every year. Li-ion batteries in small electronic equipment are likely to be incorrectly thrown into normal recycling or residual waste bins when batteries should be removed if practical and safe, or the whole item should be disposed at small WEEE battery recycling points. Consumers might not even realise a product has a Li-ion battery in it – the battery in a singing birthday card, for example, can cause a serious hazard if disposed of in the recycling system for highly combustible paper and card.
See also:
https://www.eunomia.co.uk/consortium-researching-costs-and-solutions-to-battery-powered-waste-fires/
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This is an alternative to our standard retainer system and offers clients an opportunity to obtain advice where the cost is pre-determined for the whole year. This arrangement would suit clients who may from time to time need to seek legal advice but may hold off preferring a ‘wait and see’ approach.
In our experience, early intervention can reduce the risk of the situation escalating as we can give advice and guidance that nips regulatory issues in the bud before they develop into something far worse. We also strongly recommend our clients consider taking out legal expenses insurance to cover investigations and prosecutions brought by regulators.
DyneProtect© has teamed up with Butcher & Barlow solicitors to provide DyneProtect© clients access to a specialist team of corporate and commercial lawyers for up to 1 hours’ worth of free telephone advice/legal consultation.
Butcher & Barlow have a dedicated commercial and agricultural hub on Gadbrook Park in Northwich which provides advice and assistance to a host of business clients in specialist areas such as Corporate and Commercial Law, Commercial Property, Private Client and Agriculture.
If you have a corporate or commercial issue which Dyne Solicitors is unable to handle, then Butcher & Barlow’s Commercial team will certainly be able to step in and assist.
DyneProtect© has also negotiated price reductions on OLAT / Driver CPC courses run by training providers KP Legal Limited who are offering discounts to DyneProtect© clients on Operator Licensing Awareness / Compliance training (-20%) and Periodic Driver CPC training (-10%).
