Electronics and toys are among the top purchased items during the holidays. What you may not know is that putting your old battery-powered electronics and toys in your trash or recycling bin is not only an environmental no-no, it can be downright dangerous.
Lithium batteries are compact and lightweight, but also volatile. When compressed in the back of a waste collection truck or by the equipment at a recycling center, they can easily be punctured, causing a spark that can quickly ignite a fire fueled by the surrounding waste and recyclable materials.
If an electronic device can be recharged, it is safe to assume it has a lithium battery inside it. Lithium batteries are found in a wide range of devices, including cell phones, power tools, laptops, tablets, children’s toys, scooters, electric toothbrushes and more.
Odds are you have a number of lithium batteries in your house right now and you may not even realize it. Identify how many devices in your home contain lithium-ion batteries and you could be a winner! We’ll choose three lucky winners based on the number of devices identified. Winners will receive a Republic Services diecast model truck! Hurry! Contest ends January 2, 2024!
