About
From phones and laptops to toys and tools, and more of our favorite things run on batteries. But when tossed in the trash or recycling bin, these batteries can spark intense fires that are nearly impossible to stop.
Battery fires are happening more often. They’ve destroyed homes, burned down garbage trucks and recycling centers, and—tragically—taken lives. When a facility goes up in flames, trash and recycling services can be shut down for weeks or even months. The good news? Battery fires are easy to prevent.
Just remember: never throw batteries in the trash or recycling bin. Always tape the ends and drop them off at a safe collection site—or mail them in using a certified return box.
The Facts
An overheating battery can go from from 212°F to 1,800°F in the blink of an eye. (Source: Clemson University.) When batteries ignite, they can throw off flames reaching temperatures of over 2000°F. (Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology.)
89+
Deaths in the uS
Since 2020, there have been at least 89 deaths directly related to lithium-ion battery incidents in the United States, nearly a 50% increase from 2015-2019! (Source: UL Solutions)
250+
Fires in 7 months
In the first seven months of 2025, there were more than 250 fire incidents at waste and recycling facilities across the U.S. and Canada—more facility fires than any other period on record.
(Source: Ryan Fogelman)
$22
Million per facility
Catastrophic losses caused by fires at waste processing facilities have risen 41% in the last five years, with the average catastrophic loss causing $22 million in damage.
(Source: Recycle.com)
Woodsy Owl’s Resources
Never bin your batteries! Use these helpful resources learn more about how stop battery fires before they start.
Three Easy Steps
To Turn Your
Batteries In
Which Household
Items Are Powered By Batteries?
Keep safe!
Use Woodsy Owl’s Tips for Battery Safety.
In The News
Battery fires are surging. In our homes and our communities, these explosive fires are putting more and more lives at risk.
Fire Forced Delta Emergency Landing—One Of At Least 35 Lithium Battery Incidents So Far This Year
A Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing on July 7th, after a passenger’s lithium battery-powered device caught fire mid flight.
Lithium-ion battery likely caused massive junkyard fire in Camden, EMR Metal Recycling says
A lithium-ion battery that was “wrongly delivered” to the EMR Metal Recycling facility in Camden, NJ caused a major fire that took hours to put out. This was the sixth fire at the facility since 2021.
Lithium-ion battery explosion prompts fire response in La Jolla
San Diego Fire-Rescue crews responded early to reports of an explosion at a La Jolla apartment complex, caused by lithium-ion batteries that had exploded inside a utility closet.