It is a fact that high energy batteries, mostly of the lithium type, pose serious fire hazards for WEEE recyclers.

EERA (European Association of Electronic Waste Recyclers) has just published a new report based on the contribution to the Workshop of its members: "Sharing experiences and best practices with batteries in WEEE". What emerged from the comparison between the various partners, with regard to the best practices applied in the management of batteries in the storage and treatment phase, 80% of WEEE recycling companies report serious fires and related accidents at their facilities. The risk of fires is a serious concern for the safety and safety of employees in treatment plants. Despite all the safety measures that every company can put in place and that constantly implements, it is not possible to eliminate the risks associated with the dangerousness of battery disposal and totally eliminate the danger of fires. For this reason, all the participants agreed that it is necessary to foresee and address all the dangers and risks associated with battery management, trying to go as far upstream as possible in the collection and recycling chain: therefore a document has been drawn up that collects "recommendations" aimed at all the European actors involved, namely the battery producers, the consortia that represent them, the municipalities where the collection takes place, transporters and recyclers.

EERA hopes that this Report will help raise awareness among politicians and stakeholders about the risks of fires caused by batteries in WEEE. EERA is looking forward to helping reduce the risk of fires caused by batteries in WEEE.