Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbage trucks

Re:Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbag... by potatofrenzy on Monday May 01, 2023 @11:06AM (#35773830)

I think part of the problem is that the rules are just kinda... stupid? There is absolutely no reason why regular alkaline batteries can't end up in household garbage. They don't contain heavy metals or anything else that'd make them dangerous.

The rules are basically like this because the regulators figured you're too dumb to know which types of batteries are bad for the environment (lead-acid, the now-obsolete Ni-Cd, less significantly NiMH). And sure, better-tailored rules would confuse some folks, but I bet that compliance would be higher for the really bad stuff.

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Re:Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbag... by aborochoff on Monday May 01, 2023 @11:35AM (#35774297)

At least in nyc alkaline batteries do go in the normal trash.

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/services/harmful-produc...

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Re:Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbag... by whaleofatw2022 on Monday May 01, 2023 @11:35AM (#35774295)

Alkaline batteries contain manganese dioxide, which is certainly not as bad as the rechargeable types but still is a health hazard in enough quantity. "Heavy duty" (zinc-carbon) has the same concern AFAIK

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Re:Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbag... by cptskippy on Monday May 01, 2023 @12:41PM (#35775360)

> The rules are basically like this because the regulators figured you're too dumb to know which types of batteries are bad for the environment

No everyone is as smart as you.

Not everyone cares as much as you.

Not everyone has the time or energy as you.

The rules are designed to solve the problem of hazardous and toxic battery chemistries with as little friction as possible.

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Re:Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbag... by bcrosby95 on Monday May 01, 2023 @01:13PM (#35775921)

Yep, and in my experience they just toss everything in the trash anyways.

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Re:Lithium-ion batteries a growing fire hazard in NYC garbag... by joecool1029 on Monday May 01, 2023 @12:55PM (#35775599)

> There is absolutely no reason why regular alkaline batteries can't end up in household garbage.

Years ago mercury was common in alkalines, they were banned in that use case in 1996: https://www.epa.gov/mercury/mercury-batteries The collection bins that were in my local grocery stores went away within a few years of that.

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