The enormity of the wildfires across North America and Europe leaves us stunned by a sense of helplessness. What can we possibly do as individuals to prevent a repetition next summer? The fires coincide with record ocean and land temperatures, just as global warming researchers predicted. Well for a start we could become battery aware, and join the movement to recycle battery materials.
Greater Manchester Launches Become Battery Aware Campaign
Greater Manchester in North West England is a 493 square mile urban sprawl, with a population close to three million residents. The local fire and rescue service faces a sharp rise in battery-related fires. They have launched a ‘Be Battery Aware’ campaign to educate local residents about disposing their spent batteries responsibly.
This challenge however is nothing new, and has been around for a while. But the uptick in vape and e-cigarette smoking has brought it into fresh focus again. Extracting and processing battery materials is a carbon intensive activity. Hence the call to become battery aware and take spent ones out of circulation for recycling.
The main targets are used batteries from gadgets such as electric toothbrushes, shavers, game consoles, e-cigarettes, and vapes according to local news breaker Rochdale Online. These caused 37 battery-fire-related incidents in Greater Manchester, England during the period April 1 to June 30, 2023.
Practical Things We Can Do to Assist Right Now
Batteries can cause fires if they malfunction during regular use. Moreover, even the best ones may overheat and enter thermal runaway if damaged. However, accidental damage is most likely to occur during mechanical processing at recycling sites. This is where we all can help:
- Never put spent batteries in the household trash or a garbage can.
- Hand spent batteries over at an official recycling point when in the area.
- The same applies to spent batteries in used vapes and e-cigarettes.
We can also reduce the risk of raging wildfires if we play ball this way. Every battery we recycle means less carbon in the atmosphere from battery material mines. Take another look at our photo. It really is time to cool the earth down, and become battery aware now!
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