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Since January, Rumpke has experienced more than 60 fire events in the Greater Cincinnati area. Rumpke says the cause for the majority of these incidents are batteries and other flammable items improperly placed in trash and recycling containers. Cincinnati Recycling Facility Manager Brad Dunn said, “we are understandably nervous, our recycling facility was destroyed in a fire in 2012, we are trying to ensure our current facility doesn’t meet the same fate.” In just this week alone, Rumpke’s Cincinnati Recycling facility has experienced nine small fires from batteries. Due to safeguards inside the plant, the fires were detected quickly and no major damage was incurred. “We are working to improve our processes at the plant to catch batteries before they cause major damage; however, we need help preventing these items from coming into the facility,” Dunn said. Rumpke says that batteries aren’t accepted in their recycling program, and only alkaline batteries can be placed in the trash. “Millions of people depend on our recycling facility to process their material,” Dunn said. “If we would lose this facility, it could prevent many communities and businesses from being able to recycle.”In addition to the hazard batteries cause at the recycling facility, it also poses a danger to Rumpke drivers, trucks and the motoring public.“The danger actually starts when the collection truck compacts the material,” said Kendra Catherman, region safety manager. “When a battery is compacted it can ignite, causing vehicle fires. These have become an almost weekly occurrence for our team to contend with.”Catherman added that batteries aren’t the only item that can cause a loaded fire. Items such as hot embers, propane tanks, unspent fireworks and pool chemicals can also produce fires. “We train our team to look for these items when collecting material curbside; however, with most material bagged, we can’t always catch these items before they enter the truck. That’s why it is so important that customers follow our curbside guidelines as well as our recycling acceptable items list.”For a list of items that should not be placed curbside with trash as well as a list of items that Rumpke accepts in recycling, visit here. For more information on how to properly dispose of batteries and other flammable items, contact your local solid waste district for options near you.
Since January, Rumpke has experienced more than 60 fire events in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Rumpke says the cause for the majority of these incidents are batteries and other flammable items improperly placed in trash and recycling containers.
Cincinnati Recycling Facility Manager Brad Dunn said, “we are understandably nervous, our recycling facility was destroyed in a fire in 2012, we are trying to ensure our current facility doesn’t meet the same fate.”
In just this week alone, Rumpke’s Cincinnati Recycling facility has experienced nine small fires from batteries. Due to safeguards inside the plant, the fires were detected quickly and no major damage was incurred.
“We are working to improve our processes at the plant to catch batteries before they cause major damage; however, we need help preventing these items from coming into the facility,” Dunn said.
Rumpke says that batteries aren’t accepted in their recycling program, and only alkaline batteries can be placed in the trash.
“Millions of people depend on our recycling facility to process their material,” Dunn said. “If we would lose this facility, it could prevent many communities and businesses from being able to recycle.”
In addition to the hazard batteries cause at the recycling facility, it also poses a danger to Rumpke drivers, trucks and the motoring public.
“The danger actually starts when the collection truck compacts the material,” said Kendra Catherman, region safety manager. “When a battery is compacted it can ignite, causing vehicle fires. These have become an almost weekly occurrence for our team to contend with.”
Catherman added that batteries aren’t the only item that can cause a loaded fire. Items such as hot embers, propane tanks, unspent fireworks and pool chemicals can also produce fires.
“We train our team to look for these items when collecting material curbside; however, with most material bagged, we can’t always catch these items before they enter the truck. That’s why it is so important that customers follow our curbside guidelines as well as our recycling acceptable items list.”
For a list of items that should not be placed curbside with trash as well as a list of items that Rumpke accepts in recycling, visit here.
For more information on how to properly dispose of batteries and other flammable items, contact your local solid waste district for options near you.
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