Safer Battery Recycling Programs

SWANA is advancing safer battery recycling programs through a corporate partnership with The Battery Network focused on collection, education and material recovery. The collaboration will give waste and resource management professionals access to resources for safely handling lithium-ion batteries, which can ignite when damaged or crushed after being incorrectly placed in household trash or curbside recycling.

The Battery Network brings more than 30 years of collection and recovery experience, connecting consumers, businesses, manufacturers, retailers and municipalities through designated collection sites and compliant logistics. By extending these resources to SWANA members, the partnership can help waste operators reduce battery-related fires, equipment damage and operational disruptions. It also directs used batteries toward appropriate recovery channels, helping valuable materials remain in circulation. For municipalities and waste service providers, standardized collection practices and educational resources could reduce safety-related costs while strengthening battery recycling programs as the number of lithium-ion-powered products continues to grow.