From toys and tablets to power tools and vacuums, lithium-ion batteries are becoming more common in our daily lives and frequently enter our waste disposal facilities when we’re done with them. However, disposing of these items in waste and recycling bins can cause fires, which is why this Fire Prevention Week, Wake County wants to prepare residents for the statewide ban of lithium-ion batteries from household waste sites taking effect on Dec. 1.
“Lithium-ion batteries have been the leading cause of fires at Wake County’s solid waste facilities, including the fire that damaged part of the North Wake Household Hazardous Waste facility just last year,” said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas. “We want to not only get people prepared for the ban of these items at our facilities, but also teach them how to protect themselves, their property and others from potential harm.”
Shinica Thomas
On average, the Wake County Division of Solid Waste Management has seen at least one fire at its facilities every three months over the last year. The damage to the North Wake HHW facility in January 2025 alone is estimated to cost the county $1.55 million to repair. Because hazardous waste materials cannot be stored at the damaged facility, the division is required by state permit rules to adjust its collection hours to one day a week, which has inconvenienced residents. According to statistics , there were 448 reported fires at waste and recycling facilities across North America in 2025, and since 2020, there have been more than 89 deaths related to fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
To properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries, residents simply need to:
- Tape the terminals or individually bag the batteries.
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place in an unsealed container.
- Drop batteries off at a household hazardous waste facility or another organization that will safely dispose of batteries. You can find the one nearest you at wake.gov/hhw .
Batteries do not need to go to a Wake County facility, but they should be dropped off at a site or business that can properly process them.
Other measures people can take to prevent fires caused by electronic devices, include:
- Don’t charge your devices overnight; unplug rechargeable batteries once fully charged or if you’re unable to monitor them.
- Check for damage to charging cables and batteries before use.
- Be gentle with electronics to avoid damaging the batteries and avoid leaving them in areas where there’s risk they could overheat.
- Leave devices on a hard, flat surface while charging, such as a table, desk or bare floor.
Fires are not the only problems batteries can cause. The chemicals contained in batteries can have harmful effects on the environment when landfilled. In addition to the upcoming lithium-ion battery ban, lead acid batteries have been banned from regular waste disposal since 1991.
The Wake County Fire Marshal’s Office is responsible for enforcing the North Carolina Fire Code, which relates to fire prevention in structures. Periodic inspections are conducted on all structures except one- and two-family dwellings…