BCI safety ‘toolkit’ to keep lithium out of lead recycling

Battery industry leaders have launched a campaign to combat the “serious threat” to lead-acid recycling operations from the disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

Lead battery trade industry body Battery Council International (BCI) said potential explosions caused by lithium batteries entering the recycling stream puts workers and equipment in recycling centres at risk.

But according to a BCI survey of 123 battery sorting and handling companies, 21% of respondents did not provide or receive training for new employees, 19% of respondents “were not sure” what to do with lithium batteries received and 5% indicated they “did not know the difference” between lead-acid and lithium batteries.