Lithium-ion batteries and electronic devices may soon be removed from NH landfills

House Bill 1386, now before the governor, would ban lithium-ion batteries — and the electronic devices that often contain them — from landfills and incinerators in New Hampshire. (Dave Cummings | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Lithium-ion batteries are a common cause of landfill fires. A bill to ban them – along with the electronic devices that often contain them – from landfills and incinerators in New Hampshire heads to the governor’s desk.

The legislator gave final consent to House Bill 1386 on Thursday, agreeing to changes to the bill made during conference committee.

Current law no longer prohibits the disposal of municipal waste and wet batteries, commonly used in cars, in landfills and incinerators. The measure, if approved by the governor, would ban a number of additional items, including:

• Lithium-ion batteries;

• Cordless telephones;

• Printers;

• Copiers;

• Faxes; AND

• Computer accessories such as keyboards, mice, video cameras and speakers, external hard drives, storage devices and scanners.

The bill would also require owners and operators of these facilities to take steps to prevent the disposal of batteries and electronic equipment. This includes posting information signs or giving written notice of the prohibition.

The bill also requires owners and operators, municipalities, and solid waste districts to issue educational materials about recycling these items and, when available, provide recycling options.

Lithium-ion batteries are known or suspected to have caused or are suspected of causing at least three fires in New Hampshire and two in adjacent states over the past four years, According to Reagan Bissonnette, executive director of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, a nonprofit recycling organization.

These fires “can contribute to air pollution and cause respiratory problems due to toxic smoke and ash released from burning batteries and garbage,” said attorney Nora Bosworth of the Zero Waste Project in Letter from February in support of the bill.

They can also “release heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium into the soil and water,” Bosworth said.

State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey supported the bill and stated that it is extremely important that batteries are disposed of at a battery recycling center and not in regular garbage. Residents can search for suitable dump sites near them using web tool by Call2Recycle.

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