“We’ve had six fires. So, that’s like across our department either at the landfill or at the recycling center.”

Earlier this year at the South Kent Landfill, an electric scooter’s lithium-ion battery caught fire. Katelyn Kikstra is Waste Reduction Educator with the Kent County Department of Public Works. She tells us more recently, a lithium-ion battery fire at the county’s Grand Rapids Recycling and Education Center shut down the facilities hopper.

“We weren’t able to process recycling for a really long time. We were able to hold some of the recycling. But that’s a vital service that our community relies on.”

The six battery fires have caused over 40 hours of lost operational time and approximately $90,000 in damages.

The battery fires pose a safety risk to employees. There are a variety of flammable and combustible materials that also enter the recycling stream. Lithium-ion batteries are found in common items like cell phones, electronic scooters, electric toothbrushes, and vaping devices to name just a few.

The DPW is urging residents to access its SafeChem program. There are five countywide sites where lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries can be safely disposed of free of charge.