Helena Unveils Lithium Battery Recycling Expansion

HELENA — Fires caused by discarded lithium batteries have increased this year, impacting city solid waste services and the Lewis and Clark County landfill.

The City of Helena Transfer Station is expanding its lithium battery recycling program.

“We used to work with a company called Call2Recycle and they would send us little custom cardboard boxes where the batteries had to be individually wrapped in plastic and it was a free program. They decided back in April that they were going to start charging us,” said Miranda Griffis, sustainability and recycling coordinator for the city of Helena.

The extension is made by the same company and is called the One Drum recycling kit, which includes 55-gallon drums and fire extinguishing agent, allowing batteries to be shipped in larger quantities and in a more efficient manner without burdening taxpayers.

“This will increase the amount of batteries we are diverting from the landfill because we have had several fires in the last six months, so we hope this will reduce the number of fires caused by lithium batteries,” Griffis says.

The expansion emphasizes safety and convenience, especially due to numerous landfill fires and a garbage truck fire that occurred near homes.

“There is a danger to residents, homeowners and everyone involved,” Griffis says.

Residents are asked to place all lithium battery devices under a large red “Lithium Battery Drop Off” sign next to the e-waste section of the transfer station recycling area.

“We just encourage residents to keep them out of their recycling bins and landfills because we want them to be recycled properly,” Griffis says.

The goal is to make it easier for residents to recycle lithium batteries correctly and safely.