A new ordinance aimed at reducing fire hazards and environmental damage from discarded batteries will take effect in Broward County on May 1, 2026.
The measure, authored by Commissioner Steve Geller and approved by the Broward County Commission on April 1, 2025, requires major retailers that sell large quantities of batteries to provide recycling drop-off options for the public.
According to Geller, the initiative was prompted by concerns raised during a South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) event focused on solid waste management. Experts highlighted a growing national issue: fires at waste facilities and in garbage trucks sparked by lithium batteries exposed to moisture…