Above: A follow up on the Transfer Station Fire includes a public warning about lithium batteries. (images from Facebook and Recycle Smart)
The Town hasn’t been able to definitively determine the cause of the fire that broke out in the refuse hopper at the Transfer Station last Saturday.
But the Southborough Fire Chief is reminding the public of the safety risk of throwing lithium batteries in the trash. So, I’m sharing the warning, along with information on how to deal with batteries.
When I reached out to the Town about the cause of the fire, Chief Andrew Puntini responded:
Although a variety of things could have contributed to this fire, it would be a good time to remind residents of the importance of proper disposal of Lithium Ion Batteries. They are an extreme fire hazard when subject to psychical damage, such as being processed through a transfer station. Care should be taken to dispose of them at proper drop off locations.
He also shared a link about the risk here.
While Alkeline batteries can be thrown in the trash, as this battery disposal guide highlights, many similar looking batteries and button batteries increasingly used in common devices are made with lithium. There are also rechargeable batteries that shouldn’t be tossed in the trash.
DPW Superintendent Bill Cundiff confirmed that the Transfer Station does accept batteries for safe disposal or recycling year round. You can drop those off, in addition to light bulbs and items with mercury, in the “small shed near the ‘Can Cage’.
