Austria launches campaign to prevent battery fires

Austria has begun a week-long campaign to prevent fires caused by batteries and rechargeable batteries, ORF reports. Running until Saturday, it will provide information on safe disposal and the risk of thermal runaway.

Lithium batteries are found in everyday items including wireless headphones, electric toothbrushes, power banks, toys, electronic greeting cards and e-cigarettes. If damaged or crushed under pressure in waste vehicles or processing plants, a battery can heat uncontrollably and ignite. Paper, plastic and other flammable waste can then help a fire spread.

Batteries should not be put in ordinary rubbish. They can be returned to retailers that sell them. In Vienna, batteries and rechargeable batteries can also be dropped off free of charge at municipal waste and hazardous-waste collection points, mobile hazardous-waste collection services and collection points at markets.

Devices with built-in batteries, such as electric toothbrushes, should be taken whole to collection points. The batteries do not need to be removed.

The campaign is part of the Austria-wide Her mit Leer information initiative, run by the Elektroaltgeräte Koordinierungsstelle with partners, municipalities and waste-management companies. A nationwide prize draw offers shopping vouchers.