Still tossing your vape in the kitchen trash? That is the waste-stream equivalent of shoving a road flare into a compactor. As lithium cells sneak into holiday cleanouts and curbside bins, garbage trucks and recycling facilities are seeing preventable fires. Here is the fast, practical way to spot hidden batteries and dispose of them safely and legally in 2025.

The spike in garbage fires

Waste operators have been sounding the alarm for years, and the trend is still climbing. Fire Rover counted 430 waste and recycling facility fires in 2024, many linked to lithium batteries, as noted in this SWANA statement. SWANA and NWRA are now partnering to curb battery-caused incidents and contamination in curbside streams, urging consumers to use battery take-back options instead of the bin, as highlighted in this joint update and this safety brief.

Why lithium cells ignite in the waste stream

Crushed or punctured lithium cells can short internally, heat up, and enter thermal runaway - a chain reaction that vents flammable electrolyte and ignites surrounding material. Compactors, truck hoppers, and sorting equipment are perfect conditions for this failure mode. That is why the EPA tells consumers to keep lithium batteries out of household trash and curbside recycling and to use dedicated collection programs.

Products that hide lithium batteries

If it lights up, buzzes, tracks, or charges by USB, assume there is a battery inside. Common culprits:

• Disposable vapes and e-cigarettes
• Wireless earbuds and headphones
• Bluetooth trackers and smart tags
• LED toys, light-up shoes, novelty items
• Musical greeting cards and remotes with coin cells
• Power banks and portable jump starters
• Cordless power tools and garden equipment
• E-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards, and their packs
• Electric toothbrushes, shavers, and handheld vacuums
• Drones, RC cars, and hobby packs

Rechargeable batteries belong in dedicated drop-off programs, not the curbside bin. See consumer guidance from Call2Recycle and the EPA’s lithium battery page here.

How to dispose of batteries safely in 2025

• Do not use the curbside bin. The EPA is clear: keep lithium batteries out of household trash and standard recycling. Use HHW or battery collection programs (EPA guidance).
• Prep for transport. Tape over terminals with non-conductive tape and place each battery in its own bag or container to prevent short circuits, per EPA guidance.
• Drop-off options. Use local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) sites, municipal events, or retailer partners. Call2Recycle lists many drop-off locations at major retailers - search their locator via Call2Recycle.
• Mail-back kits. If you cannot travel, use a DOT-compliant mail-back kit from a certified program. Carriers restrict damaged or defective batteries. See PHMSA lithium battery transport guidance and carrier rules such as FedEx. USPS does not allow mailing waste or damaged lithium batteries, as reminded in this Postal Bulletin.
• Damaged or swollen packs. Isolate immediately in a nonflammable area, avoid handling, and contact your HHW program for instructions. Damaged cells have stricter transport requirements under 49 CFR 173.185.
• E-bike and large tool packs. Check with the manufacturer or local bike shop for take-back. For shipment, follow 49 CFR 173.185 packaging and labeling requirements.
• Know your state rules. Many states restrict battery disposal and require retailer take-back. See state-by-state laws.

Transport tips to avoid sparks

• Keep batteries away from keys, coins, and tools.
• Do not stack or crush. Use a small box with padding.
• Store cool and dry. Avoid leaving batteries in hot cars.
• Never tape over safety vents or puncture a pack.

Holiday cleanouts: do this, not that

• Do pull batteries out of gadgets before donating or tossing.
• Do bag and label batteries by type. Keep lithium separate from alkaline.
• Do use retailer drop-off bins for small rechargeables and coin cells.
• Do not toss vapes, power banks, or tool packs in the trash.
• Do not leave swollen batteries in drawers. Treat them as hazardous.

Industry and public agencies are pushing awareness because batteries in the wrong stream can hurt workers and shut down facilities, as emphasized in this SWANA safety brief.

Quick tech context for 2025

• EV charging gets faster. The U.S. aims to build a national network of 500,000 public chargers by 2030 through the NEVI program, per DOT and DOE. Many new EVs support high-power DC charging, and sites increasingly deploy 150 to 350 kW equipment, with standards summarized by Atlas EV Hub.
• Solar keeps edging up. Lab records for tandem and perovskite-on-silicon cells continue to improve, tracked by NREL’s PV cell efficiency chart, while real-world systems commonly ship at 20 to 23 percent module efficiency as noted in DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.
• Policy momentum. States are expanding battery recycling programs. Washington proposed rules for a statewide battery recycling program in 2025, aiming to make consumer drop-off simpler and safer, per WA Ecology.

The bottom line

Lithium batteries do not belong in your trash or curbside recycling. Prep them safely, take them to proper drop-offs, or use compliant mail-back kits. That small extra step keeps trucks and facilities fire-free and gets valuable materials back into the next generation of clean tech.