Following Fire, City Reminds Residents to Dispose of Lithium Batteries Safely

Kirstin Davis, Communications Manager, 509.625.7773

Friday, February 18, 2022 at 5:46 p.m.

Following a fire at the City of Spokane’s Waste to Energy Facility this week, the City is reminding residents to take the time to dispose of lithium batteries safely. While an exact cause of Wednesday’s fire on the garbage tipping floor could not be determined, a lithium battery that was thrown away in the trash is the expected culprit.

“Lithium batteries are in so many of our consumer products from cell phones to power drills, and they are a known fire risk,” says Chris Averyt, the City’s Solid Waste Management Director. “Safety is a paramount concern; we must protect our citizens, our employees and the facilities paid for by public dollars. And fortunately, we have some good options to dispose of these batteries.”

On National Battery Day, here are some suggestions:

  • Take your batteries to the Household Hazardous Waste drop off area at the Waste to Energy Facility, 2900 S. Geiger Boulevard, or the Spokane County transfer stations at 3941 N. Sullivan Road and 22123 N. Elk-Chattaroy Road.
  • Put them in a clear plastic bag and place them on top of your recycling cart so your route driver can collect them.
  • Check out the regional Waste Directory to determine where else you can recycle and dispose of batteries.

Lithium batteries are found in many common household items like smart phones, laptops, watches, lawn and power tools because they provide a significant amount of energy and are rechargeable. The City reminds residents to “Know Before You Throw” and learn about safe battery disposal.