Pretty much everyone has had a fire at one point or another.
That’s how Kristyn Oldendorf, senior director of public policy and communications at Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), described the state of lithium-ion battery management across the waste and recycling industry and why the organization isn’t waiting on legislation to move.
“It’s just a major concern for safety and property damage,” she told Resource Recycling recently. “We realize there’s not just one solution.”
The association created a lithium-ion battery working group in response to member concerns and structured it around three tracks: policy advocacy, public outreach, and on-site safety for vehicles and facilities.
The policy subgroup has compiled state-level battery EPR examples into a reference guide for legislators and advocates. The outreach subgroup developed a postcard template with standardized messaging that any member can customize. The safety subgroup is developing SOPs, equipment guidance and protocols for engaging local fire departments.
Oldendorf pointed out a gap that policy alone won’t close: most battery EPR frameworks don’t cover electronics and electronics are what’s actually igniting in collection trucks.
“A lot of the battery EPR doesn’t cover electronics. That’s what we’re hearing from our members. That’s what’s creating the fires. Because a lot of times people throw things away not even realizing it has a battery in it.”
The problem extends well beyond obvious lithium-ion devices. One SWANA member had a truck fire traced to an electric fly swatter.
“It’s just all these random gadgets in our homes that plug in that you might not think about but they can start a fire,” Oldendorf said.
She pointed to a broader policy toolkit as necessary: right-to-repair legislation, product labeling requirements and R&D incentives for safer battery chemistry are all part of the picture alongside EPR.
On the legislative front, Oldendorf said momentum is building but uneven. Nebraska passed battery EPR last year. Indiana’s bill didn’t advance this session but is expected to return. Minnesota is tracking several proposals; Iowa has been in the works. Vermont has had a framework in place for more than a decade.
Federal guidance is also advancing. EPA is developing a battery EPR framework that is not binding legislation, but rather is a reference document that Oldendorf said could provide “meaningful support” at the state level.
“It won’t be legislation, but just having that federal guidance and framework in place is really important, something that local legislators can point to and use as guidance,” she said.
Cross-sector collaboration has expanded in parallel. SWANA released a joint policy statement on battery EPR with the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) last year and is actively working with REMA. The battery working group regularly hosts guest speakers from government agencies and fire associations.
“We’re all facing similar challenges,” Oldendorf said. “How can we work together on policy, communication and outreach.”
