Denuo, the industry association representing Belgium’s recycling sector, says governments and collection organisations must take greater responsibility to curb the rapidly growing number of battery fires.
The call comes after a series of recent incidents. On 19 August, a fire broke out at the main site of metal recycler Galloo in Menen, near the Belgian-French border. A discarded lithium battery in a batch of electrical and electronic equipment is believed to have been the cause.
45 fires already this year
According to the Denuo, battery fires at Belgian recycling companies have tripled in the past three years from 20 to 60 incidents per year. This year, the figure has already reached 45.
According to the association, incorrectly sorted lithium batteries are the main culprit. They are typically inside devices such as electric toothbrushes and toys but also end up mixed in with metal, paper, textiles or residual waste. When batteries are damaged during collection or recycling, they can ignite with devasting consequences.
Recyclers bear the cost
The consequences for recyclers are significant. Production processes are halted, workers are put at risk and insurance premiums become unaffordable. It means recycling companies are left to bear the costs of the damage, even though they did not place the batteries on the market.
Denuo is calling on collection organisations Recupel and Bebat to strengthen further their existing collection systems. The federation is proposing, among other measures, an additional contribution for every battery placed on the market. The funds could pay for fire prevention, detection technology and research. A smarter return system for portable lithium batteries could also encourage consumers to dispose of them correctly.
More control: safety first
Denuo says local and national governments must also act. They should enforce stricter requirements for the removability and clear labelling of batteries and, at European level, target products whose batteries are difficult or impossible to dispose of safely.
The industry association also stresses that consumers have a responsibility. ‘Removable batteries should be taken to a Bebat collection point. Waste electrical and electronic equipment whose battery cannot easily be removed can be taken to a Recupel collection point.’
According to the federation, the circular economy can only operate safely if responsibility for a battery ends, not at the checkout, but when it has been safely collected and recycled.
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