Tackling the lithium ion battery challenge

Lithium‑ion batteries have become an essential part of modern life. They power our phones, e‑bikes, laptops, tools, and an ever‑growing range of everyday products. But as their use increases, so too does the risk they pose across the waste and recycling sector, particularly when they are damaged, disposed of incorrectly, or mixed with general waste.

At this year’s Irish Waste Management Conference (IWMC) on 12th March, SLR’s Chris Porter and Conor Walsh delivered keynote presentations outlining why lithium‑ion batteries represent one of the most significant emerging threats to the waste industry. The issue gained immediate attention following the event, with an article on the front page of The Irish Times [1]. Conor, who is also the Secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association, was then interviewed live on radio shows on RTÉ [2], Newstalk Today [3], and Cork 103 [4], as well as a recorded piece on RTÉ television news, [5] where he expanded on the risks discussed at the conference.

Why lithium‑ion batteries are a growing concern

Thermal runaway is now the industry’s biggest fire risk

Thermal runaway, an uncontrollable, self‑heating reaction within a battery, is responsible for causing many fires across waste facilities, transport vehicles, and public infrastructure. Four main triggers have been found to instigate thermal runaway:

• Overcharging
• External heat exposure
• Internal short circuits
• Physical damage (e.g. puncture or crushing)

Once thermal runaway begins, fire can spread rapidly and is extremely difficult to extinguish.

Lithium‑ion batteries are everywhere

The chemistry that makes these batteries efficient also makes them hazardous. They now appear in hundreds of everyday items: greeting cards with LED lights, toys, vapes, headphones, beauty tools, e‑bikes, toothbrushes, kitchen appliances, and more.

Vapes in particular have become a major and growing concern. The manufacturing industry is widely seen as not taking responsibility for the products it places on the market, despite the scale of the issue. In Ireland alone, 31 million vapes are sold annually, yet only around 1 million are collected for recycling, meaning 30 million devices containing lithium‑ion batteries end up in the wrong bins each year and pose a significant fire risk across the waste system.

Many people don’t realise these products contain batteries or are unaware, or even indifferent , to the damage they can cause, meaning they are often thrown into general waste and are a key cause of fires.

Regulation is tightening and intends to reshape responsibilities

The policy landscape is shifting quickly, with the EU Battery Regulation introducing harmonised safety and sustainability requirements that place new obligations on manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers, while the UK’s Product Regulation & Metrology Act brings online marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy into formal regulatory scope, increasing accountability for products sold through these platforms. These changes represent an important step forward, but compliance across supply chains remains inconsistent.

Experience also shows that legislation alone is not enough. For example, the UK’s ‘single‑use vape’ restrictions have not been effective, as manufacturers have responded by producing multi‑use vapes that are still effectively disposable after only several uses. These devices often contain partially or fully charged batteries at end‑of‑life, increasing the likelihood of fires when they are discarded in general waste. This pattern is expected to replicate in Ireland unless additional measures are introduced.

Innovation is advancing, but end‑of‑life remains crucial

The industry is making noticeable progress, with developments such as non‑flammable electrolytes, advances in solid‑state battery technology, and an increasing emphasis on battery passports and traceability. Yet this momentum highlights a wider truth: innovation on its own is not enough. Without safe, accessible, and well‑managed end‑of‑life pathways, even the most advanced battery designs can still become significant fire hazards once they enter the waste stream.

Disposal remains the weakest link

Public awareness of safe battery disposal remains low, and disposal behaviours are often unsafe. The impact is substantial: in Ireland alone, damages linked to lithium‑ion battery fires, and the cost of investing in new fire detection and suppression systems, exceeded €50 million last year.

These pressures highlight the need for a coordinated, sector‑wide approach that strengthens product stewardship, improves public communication, and expands accessible recycling infrastructure.

Recognising the urgency of the issue, the IWMA is calling for the introduction of a simple vape return mechanism in the short term, for example, applying a €5 fee when a customer does not return an old vape to the retailer. The fee would flow to the EPR scheme and could fund significantly expanded communications, collection, and recycling programmes.

How SLR can help

If a business handles, stores, transports, or processes materials containing batteries, it should be assessing fire and thermal‑runaway risks across operations and supply chains, reviewing compliance exposure under the EU Battery Regulation and the UK’s evolving product standards, improving product design and end‑of‑life pathways. Particularly for small portable batteries, it is important for businesses to train staff and customers on safe use, charging, and disposal, and engage with specialists to future‑proof its waste, recycling, or circular‑economy strategy. To explore how SLR can provide support across compliance, engineering design, risk management, and circular‑economy planning, businesses are encouraged to get in touch with our team.