Seattle battery disposal ban takes effect

The state of Washington has passed an extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for batteries that will take effect in 2027, but according to McKenna Morrigan, strategic advisor for Seattle Public Utilities, the city “cannot wait to act to protect our staff and facilities.”

As of Jan. 1, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) Directors Rule SW-404 took effect, banning the disposal of batteries and certain electronic products in municipal solid waste, including any commercial or residential garbage or recycling can or container, or at any transfer station except in containers or other locations designated to collect these items for recycling.

 At a news conference Jan. 29, city officials laid out the reasoning for the ban, as well as where residents can take their spent batteries for safe disposal.

According to the new rule, residents can no longer place the following items in their curbside bins:

• cathode ray tubes;
• TVs;
• monitors;
• computers and laptops;
• tablets;
• e-readers such as Kindles or Nooks;
• portable DVD players;
• miniature button cell batteries;
• alkaline, silver oxide, zinc air and other single-use batteries; and
• lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium and other rechargeable batteries.

Harold Scoggins, the city’s fire chief, said during the last two years, the fire department has responded to 79 fires in the city caused by lithium-ion batteries, in particular. He added that many of these fires were the result of improperly charging, storing and disposing of devices containing these batteries.

“Fires involving lithium-ion batteries can start and spread quickly and can result in significant property loss, injuries or, in the worst-case scenario, can have deadly consequences, as we have seen around the country,” Scoggins said. “When overheated, the batteries can explode, leading to an aggressive fire and one that’s challenging to extinguish.

“Batteries damaged by fire can also reignite and spread rapidly to other combustible materials. The dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries should be taken seriously, similar to the effort to install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Battery fires are now the new hazard we are facing.”

In addition, Scoggins said the city’s fire department has responded to eight fires at SPU’s trash and recycling transfer stations in the last three years, and batteries may have been the culprit in several.

SPU customers can safely dispose of batteries and electronics by dropping them off for free at SPU’s North and South transfer stations or at its hazardous waste facilities. Rechargeable batteries can be taken to partner retail locations through the Call2Recycle volunteer producer responsibility network. For a $5 fee, batteries can be picked up curbside by SPU through its special-item pickup program. Electronics can be dropped off for free at the North transfer station and throughout the city through the E-Cycle Washington program.

“The Seattle disposal ban underscores the importance of responsible battery recycling and encourages residents and businesses to take advantage of the collection network that Call2Recycle offers,” says Leo Raudys, president and CEO of Atlanta-based Call2Recycle, in a statement. “By collectively embracing these new measures, Seattle residents can contribute to a cleaner, safer and more sustainable future. This new rule marks a crucial step forward in safeguarding Seattle’s environment and the well-being of its residents.”

When it comes to enforcement, Morrigan said if collection staff observe batteries or electronics in curbside bins, they’ll leave a tag for the customer letting them know and asking to remove it so the collection can proceed safely.

“Our city is, by all accounts, a leader in innovative approaches that improve lives and increase productivity and lessen our impact on the environment,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said. “We see devices that are battery-charged now, which is good for the planet, and this is a good thing. They are invaluable to our lives, but we also have to acknowledge that they have the potential to do harm.”