Cheltenham Township recently issued a Public Service Announcement regarding the disposal of lithium-ion batteries which have caused two fires in collection trucks over the past two weeks.

According to the announcement, an August 10 fire took place in a trash truck, and an August 17 fire took place in the Township’s newest recycling truck which was purchased for $261,860 three months ago.

The Cheltenham Fire Company was able to extinguish the fires before it caused damage to the trucks, but each response was reported to cost roughly $975.

From the Township’s website:

For the safety of our employees (and those further down the waste management chain), the protection of our equipment, and even the cleanliness of our community, please DO NOT attempt to dispose of any form of lithium battery through the Township’s weekly refuse and recycling collections.

Lithium-ion batteries can often be recycled through businesses such as Home Depot, Staples, Lowe’s, and Best Buy, or through Montgomery County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program (MontcoPARecycles.org).

Automotive batteries are accepted free of charge by drop-off at the Public Works Facility, 8101 Old York Rd.

Additional guidelines from the EPA regarding used lithium-ion batteries can be found here.

From their Facebook post:

PSA: DO NOT dispose of any form of Lithium-ion battery (large or small!) through the Township’s weekly refuse and recycling collections. Lithium-ion batteries can often be recycled through Home Depot, Staples, Lowe’s, and Best Buy, or through Montgomery County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program (MontcoPARecycles.org).

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