Lithium-ion batteries in landfills can start fires. A new law in New Hampshire makes it illegal to throw them in the trash.
Governor Chris Sununu recently signed a bill banning lithium-ion batteries and some electronic waste from landfills and incinerators. These batteries can catch fire if damaged, especially when heavy machinery handles trash, said Reagan Bissonnette, executive director of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association.
To tell if something has a lithium-ion battery, check if it’s rechargeable, Bissonnette explained. The new law also bans other types of electronic waste from disposal in New Hampshire’s landfills and incinerators and will include educational materials about recycling.
State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey supported the bill and highlighted the need to educate people about battery safety. He noted that some fires in landfills might be due to batteries, though it’s hard to confirm since it’s often mixed with other trash.
Bissonnette added that fires often occur before batteries even reach the landfill, during trash compaction and transport.
Currently, state law already bans yard waste and car batteries from landfills and incinerators, as well as certain electronic waste like computer parts and video display devices. The new law, effective July 2025, adds:
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Wireless phones
- Printers
- Copiers
- Fax machines
- Computer accessories like keyboards, mice, cameras, speakers, external hard drives, memory storage devices, and scanners.
The law requires disposal facilities to prevent the disposal of these items by posting signs or providing written notices. It also mandates that recycling information and opportunities be provided to the public.
Rep. Karen Ebel, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the fire risk and the value of lithium, which makes recycling important. Bissonnette added that all batteries should be recycled, and ideally, none should be thrown in the trash.