Proper battery management is on the agenda for local governments, and rightly so. Most essential products and devices rely on some type of battery for power. If it’s lithium-ion, safe disposal is a concern. So is sourcing. By 2021, China will control an estimated two-thirds of the global lithium cell production capacity, according to BloombergNEF.

What we do with our batteries and electronics at the end of their lives is fueling one of the biggest emerging problems in the world of waste. Recently, Battery Council International (BCI) was invited by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) to provide information on best battery management practices for community recycling operations. BCI member Tod Lyons gave an informative presentation at the capitol titled, “The Dangers of Lithium Batteries in Lead Battery Waste Systems.”