OCRRA is launching four new rechargeable battery drop-off locations in Syracuse as communities nationwide grapple with a growing fire hazard from improperly discarded batteries.
The expansion comes after a fire broke out inside a city of Syracuse truck collecting curbside recyclables in December 2024. When rechargeable batteries are placed in trash or recycling bins, they can get crushed by compactors or punctured, causing battery cells to spark and ignite, according to OCRRA.
The four new drop-off sites, funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant, are located at Syracuse community centers: Armond Magnarelli Community Center at 2308 Grant Blvd., Bob Cecile Community Center at 174 W. Seneca Turnpike, Southwest Community Center at 401 South Ave. near Clover Street, and Syracuse Northeast Community Center at 716 Hawley Ave…