CAMDEN — Congressmen Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today met with representatives from EMR’s Camden recycling plant and local elected officials to discuss the nationwide issue of lithium battery fires.

Lithium batteries contain more power and charge faster than other batteries, but those efficiencies can also create a fire hazard if exposed to physical damage or excess heat. While these risks require special disposal processes, many consumers are unaware when they are disposing lithium batteries and recycling facilities are often underequipped to identify them in the waste stream. As such, there are an estimated 5,000 fires at recycling plants in the United States each year, with most being ignited by improperly disposed lithium batteries.

Without action the problem will only continue to grow: Lithium batteries are used in a large amount of modern products such as handheld electronics, e-cigarettes, medical devices, and the total amount of lithium consumption nearly quadrupled between just 2010 and 2021. Municipalities from coast to coast, including Camden, are increasingly being forced to respond to large battery fires.

“Lithium batteries aren’t going away, and communities are struggling to safely recycle them across the world. Reducing these fires will take a team effort, and the producers of these batteries need to play a more active role – especially since they know what happens to these batteries at the end of their lifecycle,” Norcross said. “There’s no one silver bullet solution, but my visit with Congressman Pallone and folks on the frontlines here in Camden certainly helps me feel that more people are taking this issue seriously.”

“Lithium-ion batteries shouldn’t be turning recycling facilities into fire hazards. When these batteries end up where they don’t belong, they can put entire communities at risk. I came to Camden with Congressman Norcross to see the problem firsthand and figure out what we can do in Congress to prevent these fires before they start,” said Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue.

“Everyone wants to ensure that fires of this magnitude never occur,” Victor Carstarphen, mayor of Camden said. “I commend Congressman Norcross for looking at potential solutions to this issue and for working with local officials to help safeguard against the threat of a future event.  Improving federal regulations and requiring standardized labeling of materials would be a positive step forward.”

“Recyclers everywhere are reckoning with the risks that lithium batteries pose to the waste stream, and no one has more stake in preventing these fires than the hardworking men and women staffing these facilities in their own communities,” Joe Balzano, chief executive officer of EMR USA said. “EMR appreciates the leaders who came to Camden today to see the issue up close – and for elevating the need for solutions about what can be done about this national problem.”

Multiple efforts have been launched this Congress to prevent lithium battery fires. In October, Norcross introduced the Battery Fire Prevention Act, which includes measures to boost recycling facilities’ access to battery detectors and create a lithium battery buyback fund. Earlier this month, the House Energy and Commerce Committee also advanced the Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act – legislation that would modernize and clarify regulations and safeguards for lithium battery storage and recycling.

Full text of Norcross’ Battery Fire Prevention Act can be found here.

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