The Potential Hazards of Lithium-Ion Batteries

graphic showing the five key highlights from the article including lithium ion batteries that are 1) all around us, 2) are a hidden danger, 3)can burn at extreme temps, 4) are a strain on our resources, and 5) pose a risking risk.

Understanding lithium-ion battery technology and risks

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that have become increasingly popular over the last several decades. Recently, they appear more and more in our daily lives. From our phones to children’s toys and even greeting cards, these batteries have become part of our everyday routines, whether we realize it or not. They are almost impossible for us to avoid because they make life so much easier and accessible.

The science of battery fires

It is normal for batteries to produce some kind of heat while running, which is why our devices get warm after being used for long periods of time. The reason these devices don’t typically burn us when we use them is that the heat has a way to escape, typically through a small vent.

However, danger arises when the battery's physical integrity is compromised. When a lithium-ion battery gets crushed or becomes severely damaged:

The heat can’t escape,
Internal short circuits occur
Resulting in a fire and, in extreme cases, a small explosion.

Fire intensity and resource consumption

One of the main concerns with fires caused by lithium-ion batteries is the amount of effort it takes to extinguish them.

a table showing examples of burn temperatures and water requirements when lithium ion batteries from electric vehicles catch on fire versus gasoline powered cars. — *According to reports from* *universities* *and* *governmental agencies* (*Lithium Battery Fire Statistics, 2025).*

The large consumption of resources is a huge reason why lithium-ion battery fires are so detrimental and hazardous to the facilities where they occur.

National trends and safety statistics

Within the last five years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in the United States. As more companies incorporate these batteries into their products, and consumers purchase the products, battery disposal becomes a more significant reality. Resource Management Superintendent of the Iowa City Landfill, Jennifer Jordan, believes that with an increase in battery use in our daily lives, the amount of batteries that end up in our landfills also increases.

A multi-series chart provided by the UL Research Institute (2025) showing total reported incidents in the U.S. A light blue bar graph tracks total incidents, peaking significantly between 2022 and 2024. A red line graph tracks injuries, showing a steep incline to 300 in 2023, while a dark maroon line shows fatalities peaking at approximately 50 in 2023. — *Total reported incidents in the United States (UL Research Institute, 2025).*

According to the UL Research Institute, there were around 550 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in 2024 throughout the United States. These fires were likely caused by batteries from cars, electric scooters, laptops, cellular devices, nicotine devices, and other energy storage systems.

The impact on waste infrastructure and communities

While lithium-ion batteries are safe to use and have a very low probability of danger while in use, they become a serious fire hazard when they end up in landfills or recycling facilities. When these batteries get run over and crushed during compaction in a facility, they can easily start a fire that takes a long time to put out. Additional potential impacts can include injuries, external emergency response, service disruptions, and monetary losses.

Facility vulnerability

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 64 waste facilities experienced a total of 245 fires that were caused by, or most likely caused by, lithium-ion batteries over a seven-year period.

A bar chart comparing the number of fires to the number of facilities affected between 2013 and 2020. Both metrics show a steady climb, with fires (dark green) increasing from 2 in 2013 to 65 in 2020, and affected facilities (light green) rising from 1 to 16 in the same period. — *Amount of facilities affected compared to the amount of fires by year (EPA, 2025).*

When it comes to what kind of facilities were affected most by these fires, landfills have been shown to be the most affected type of facility.

A stacked bar chart (EPA, 2025) titled "Type of Facility Affected by Year" from 2013 to 2020. The chart categorizes facilities into Landfill (dark green), MRF (light green), Transport (blue), and Other (light blue/striped). Landfills consistently represent the largest segment of affected facilities, especially from 2018 to 2020. — *Different types of facilities that were affected by lithium-ion batteries (EPA, 2025).*

Case Studies: From big cities to local communities

These fires are not only impacting the facilities where they’re occurring, but they’re also impacting the surrounding communities as well.

New York City

One notable place that has experienced a large amount of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries is New York City. Due to their large population and the amount of batteries used for transportation methods around the city, such as e-bikes, scooters, and other modes of transportation, there's an increased amount of batteries ending up in their local landfills. As a result, the amount of fires that occur has also increased. According to Seneca Insurance and the Fire Department of New York, e-bikes powered by lithium-ion batteries in New York City accounted for 267 fires throughout 2023.

Iowa

Across the state, landfills are seeing an increase in fires due to lithium-ion batteries, despite recycling programs that have been developed. According to Jordan, the Iowa City Landfill has seen 24 fires in the last three years, with at least 13 of them attributed to lithium-ion batteries. In 2025 alone, there were 11 fires caused by these batteries, which was a sizable jump from the two fires that were recorded in 2024.

Prevention and proper disposal

Lithium-ion batteries won’t be going anywhere soon. To help prevent these fires and protect waste and recycling workers, make sure batteries are going to the correct places to be recycled, instead of being thrown in the trash.

Ways to dispose of them correctly:

Contact your local solid waste agency.
Visit a big-box retailer
Check with your local hardware store.

If we dispose of batteries correctly, we can decrease the amount of fires that occur at landfills and recycling facilities and, in turn, help our community!