In the past six weeks, there have been several small fires inside the Linn County Solid Waste Agency landfill. The culprit? Lithium batteries. The batteries are often used to power things like hearing aids and watches. But when they're run over by compactors, they can break open and ignite.

Joe Horaney, communications director for Linn County Solid Waste, says that the goal is to keep the batteries out of the landfill. He said they could also start a fire in your home if you throw something heavy on top of the battery in your garbage.

The Waste Agency offers free recycling for lithium batteries at both it's County Home Road and A Street locations.

[via KCRG]

 

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