Maksym Yemelyanov | stock.adobe.com
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and battery recycler Redwood Materials have announced a joint campaign to raise public awareness about proper lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling, emphasizing safety and U.S. energy dominance as well as highlighting the availability of LIB drop-off points across South Carolina.
LIBs power a wide array of devices, including phones, cars, kitchen appliances, toothbrushes, laptops and more, with each containing resources that can be recycled and reused in the U.S. Redwood, headquartered in Carson City, Nevada, claims it recovers more than 95 percent of the critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel and returns them to the supply chain.
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“Through this campaign, we want to show that collective action on lithium-ion battery recycling directly supports American energy independence,” says Morgan Crapps, director of public affairs and government relations for Redwood. “Each battery and device we recycle keeps our nation’s valuable, finite natural resources in circulation and creates jobs right here in our community.”
As part of the campaign, ESFI and Redwood also will partner with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) as part of its “Be Battery Smart” campaign to expand battery collection and education.
“Collaborating on public education campaigns is critical to addressing the lack of consumer awareness about the proper disposal and recycling of lithium-ion batteries,” SCDES Director Myra Reece says. “With these types of batteries becoming so commonplace in our daily lives, it’s important for everyone to understand how safe recycling of these batteries protects both people and the environment.”
One of ESFI's key priorities in recent years has been LIB safety, where it has filled in gaps for safety messaging about all parts of the battery life cycle, from responsible shopping to safe use to proper repurposing. Through conducting consumer surveys and working with manufacturers, distributors, regulators and product safety testing laboratories, ESFI says it has “become a leading voice in the space, reaching millions of people nationwide.”
“This partnership comes at the perfect time, as ESFI begins preparing for the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week campaign,” says Jennifer LeFevre, executive director of Arlington, Virginia-based ESFI. “This year’s theme, ‘Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-ion Batteries in Your Home,’ aligns perfectly with the messaging that ESFI has been using for years to educate the public about how to safely charge, use and repurpose their rechargeable devices.”
Redwood has 41 drop-off locations in the Greenville, Columbia and Charleston areas. Redwood and ESFI also say they are welcoming businesses and other organizations to explore partnership opportunities, including battery collection boxes and events.