Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Exploding in NYC’s Garbage Trucks. Only You Can Stop Them.
25th August 2024
Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly exploding inside garbage trucks, endangering New York City’s sanitation workers.
The long, rectangular batteries used in e-bikes have become a fiery threat to New York City homes, and have led to as many as 626 blazes and 26 deaths since 2022, according to the FDNY. These batteries are found in everything from power tools to vapes to laptops, and are now so ubiquitous that sanitation workers say they’re also finding their way into trash streams.
The number of sanitation department collection truck fires that were either caused or likely caused by discarded lithium-ion batteries increased from just 1 in 2017 to 28 in 2023, according to the agency. And so far this year, there have already been 23 such fires through the beginning of August, though no injuries have been reported.
New York City is effectively a Turd World country.