As part of an effort to reduce the risk of fires caused by lithium batteries in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), a consortium of industry groups has just issued a report that compiles a number of “good practices” applicable to all phases of the product development process.
The report, “Recommendations for Tackling Fires Caused by Lithium Batteries in WEEE,” compiles the findings of an industry survey conducted in 2019 by a consortium of EU-level associations of WEEE manufacturers and recyclers, including the WEEE Forum, the European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC), the European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA), and WEEELABEX, an international non-profit.
Part 2 of the report provides a compilation of the findings of that survey, listing nearly 30 different recommendations and good practices for reducing the risk of fires associated with WEEE batteries, and addressing issues related to design, collection, and logistics, as well as policy matters.
The report makes clear that there is no “magic formula that will reduce to zero the risk of fires caused by WEEE containing batteries.” Instead, “it is critically important that a range of actions are taken in all steps of the lifecycles of both electronic devices and lithium batteries.”
Read the WEEE Forum’s report on dealing with fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
