Lithium batteries drive rise in recycling facility fires

Fires at recycling facilities in Switzerland are increasing as lithium batteries enter waste streams, SRF reported, citing French-language broadcaster RTS. A major fire at the Thévenaz-Leduc recycling company in Ecublens, in Vaud canton, on August 28 has renewed attention on the risks.

Dario Balmelli, who works for the company, said a pile of metal scrap scheduled for shredding initially appeared harmless. Surveillance cameras showed a small amount of smoke before flames rose five metres high within minutes, disrupting parts of western Lausanne.

The Vaud public prosecutor’s investigation is ongoing. Balmelli said a lithium battery was almost certainly responsible. Such fires often begin with white smoke before the battery ignites within seconds.

The Vaud environmental department told RTS that the company complied with the requirements of the federal waste ordinance. Inspections in 2024 and 2025 found no problems with the acceptance or treatment of waste. The department has also taken soil samples around the facility to check for possible contamination from the fire.

The Ecublens incident is not isolated. Several Swiss recycling centres have experienced fires in recent years, with lithium batteries either suspected or confirmed as the cause.

Damaged, crushed or incorrectly discarded batteries can ignite very quickly. They are found in many everyday products, including mobile phones, wireless headphones, e-cigarettes and toys. At Thévenaz-Leduc, batteries removed from electrical devices are collected in special containers and sent to specialised facilities. Balmelli said the risk often arises earlier in the disposal chain because many people do not know where such batteries belong. A single lithium battery in the wrong place can start a fire.

Rising insurance premiums are also increasing costs for the industry. Recycling companies in Geneva say they are investing more in fire protection. One company has operated an automatic sprinkler system combined with thermal imaging cameras for about a year to detect potential fires and prevent them from spreading. Its director general, Bertrand Girod, said the company had spent more than two million Swiss francs on technical safety measures over the past 20 years.

Fire insurers are also strengthening prevention efforts. The Vaud building insurance agency uses a simulator to show how damaged lithium batteries can suddenly catch fire. Fire safety expert Marcus Wahlin said a battery that becomes hot enough to cause burns when touched is showing a warning sign. The same applies to swollen batteries.

Incidents involving lithium batteries remain relatively rare in private homes, according to Florian Widmer, head of prevention at the agency. However, their number has risen from about 10 fires a year before 2020 to almost 30 today, representing around 2 percent of all reported furniture and residential fires in Vaud canton.

The recycling industry is also expanding training. Swiss Recycle recently held its first training course in French-speaking Switzerland for managers of collection points in Yverdon-les-Bains. The course covered the risks and the correct acceptance, storage and transport of lithium batteries.

Fire insurance agencies in French-speaking Switzerland recommend using suitable chargers, preferably those supplied by the manufacturer; avoiding damage, crushing or puncturing batteries; and storing devices and batteries in a dry place away from high heat. Devices should not be left charging unattended for long periods. Old or damaged batteries should be returned to collection or retail points rather than placed in household waste. If smoke or fire appears, people should move away, avoid inhaling the fumes and contact emergency services.