Nevada City, Calif. — Recent fires at the transfer station have prompted Nevada County Solid Waste and WM to remind the community about the importance of proper battery recycling.

A sack of batteries improperly disposed of combusted and started a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. Household batteries need to be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste building. For WM (Waste Management) curbside customers, household batteries can be separated in a zip-loc bag and placed on the recycle cart on recycle pickup day.
A sack of batteries, improperly disposed of, combusted and started a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. Household batteries need to be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste building. For WM (Waste Management) curbside customers, household batteries can be separated in a Ziploc bag and placed on the recycle cart on recycle pickup day.

To reduce the potential for fire and other hazards, it’s crucial to dispose of batteries and battery-embedded products properly. Batteries are considered household hazardous waste because they can leak, cause illness, and ignite fires.

The remains of a cell phone that ignited a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station is pictured. Products containing batteries, such as cell phones, must be separated from household trash and taken to the Household Hazardous Waste building at the transfer station. Staples located at 646 Sutton Way, Grass Valley also accepts e-waste items.
The remains of a cell phone that ignited a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station is pictured. Products containing batteries, such as cell phones, must be separated from household trash and taken to the Household Hazardous Waste building at the transfer station. Staples located at 646 Sutton Way, Grass Valley also accepts e-waste items.

WM has reported nine fires in the last six months caused by batteries, cell phones, or other battery-powered products improperly thrown in the trash. Eight of those fires were at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station, and one was in a garbage truck.

A battery pack sparked a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. Batteries need to be separated from household trash and brought to the Household Hazardous Waste building at the transfer station for proper disposal.
A battery pack sparked a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. Batteries need to be separated from household trash and brought to the Household Hazardous Waste building at the transfer station for proper disposal.

“Of the eight battery fires (at the transfer station) this year, five have occurred in the last month,” Alex Zalasky, District Manager for WM, said. “The issue is becoming more prevalent at the transfer station.”

Here are ways to recycle batteries at no cost in Nevada County:

  • Household Hazardous Waste Building at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station,14741 Wolf Mountain Road, Grass Valley, accepts batteries and e-waste products. Open: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday.
  • Staples, 646 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, accepts most e-waste products.
  • WM Curbside customers: Recycling for small household batteries (i.e., AA, 9-volt) is included with your service. Place them in a plastic Ziploc bag on top of the recycle cart on pickup day.
This air quality monitor with an embedded battery sparked a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. Battery-embedded products should be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste building at the transfer station and not put with regular trash.
This air quality monitor with an embedded battery sparked a fire at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station. Battery-embedded products should be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste building at the transfer station and not put with regular trash.

“It is important that community members understand the unintended consequences of throwing lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bin,” said Alex Keeble-Toll, Nevada County director of the Office of Emergency Services. “Improper handling can result in very problematic ignitions. Not only do these batteries have a self-sustaining chain reaction, which makes the fires difficult to stop, but they also release a cocktail of toxic gases, which puts our first responders in harm’s way.”

For questions regarding household hazardous waste, contact Nevada County Solid Waste at solidwaste@nevadacountyca.gov, www.nevadacountyca.gov/solidwaste, or 530-265-7111.