Fires Break Out at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
According to the findings of West Bloomfield, Michigan-based safety and suppression company, Fire Rover, there has been an increase in facility fires in 2022 compared to previous years. A total of 390 fires have occurred at material recovery facilities (MRFs) in 2022, as opposed to 367 incidents in 2021.
At a recent presentation hosted by the National Waste & Recycling Association in Arlington, VA, Ryan Fogelman, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Fire Rover, highlighted data from its sixth annual “Reported Waste & Recycling Facility Fires US/CAN” report. In addition to sharing information with attendees, he discussed ways businesses can reduce the risk of fires.
“In 2022, we had more fires than we’ve ever had [since we began putting this report together],” Fogelman said. “The data we’re tracking is based on reported incidents … That’s a very, very conservative number.”
Over 2000 Fires Ignite
Drawing from U.K. Environment Agency records, Fogelman estimated that more than 2,000 fires broke out at MRFs in the last year. This estimate was derived by extrapolating data gathered throughout the years.
“I take the reported numbers and use a six-times assumption based on the reported numbers from the U.K.,” Fogelman specified in a recent statement. “In the U.K. they require reporting from their waste and recycling operators. In the U.S. we do not. I use the reported numbers. When we assume that the ‘reported’ fires are the larger fires, we can use simple population extrapolation to get a six-times comfortable number. There are 60 million people in the U.K. and 360 million U.S. and Canadians.”
As reported by the Environmental Research & Education Foundation, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, an estimated 30 percent of MRFs, scrap yards and transfer stations in both the U.S. and Canada experienced a two-plus alarm fire in 2022.
Fire Incident Specifics
An analysis of Fire Rover’s records revealed that reported cases of facility fires experienced a significant increase in the months of February, May, June and October 2022 compared to the same months in preceding years.
Fogelman observed that the number of fire incidents at waste, paper and plastic sites had grown by 19 percent, with organics facilities experiencing an even higher increase at 23 percent. In comparison, scrap metal locations only experienced a 3 percent rise in fire events.
Approximately half of the fires at facilities, according to Fogelman, can be attributed to lithium-ion batteries and the other half are caused by typical risks such as propane tanks, accelerants, chemicals, flares, hot charcoal, and cigarette butts.
“I have hope that over the next couple of years, we’re going to start to see those numbers go down,” Fogelman explained during a webinar. “Unfortunately, what’s happening is there are so many batteries that are getting into the waste and recycling stream [due to increased usage].”
Lithium-Ion Batteries Cause 50% of Documented Fires
A plethora of everyday electronics are powered by Lithium-Ion batteries, from cell phones and laptops to wireless headphones, tablets and even calculators. Although these batteries can be extremely useful, not handling battery components carefully can have harmful consequences. For example, bumping or jarring a battery may cause its stored energy to be released, initiating a self-heating process that could result in combustion.
The EPA has recently published its findings on the causes of accidental fire outbreaks, with damaged batteries being cited as one of the primary sources. The report outlines what leads to battery damage, and how it can result in unforeseen fires. It also details protective measures that should be taken in order to avoid these occurrences.
The report asserts, “When a battery casing is punctured, crushed, or otherwise mechanically damaged, the separator may be pierced. If the separator is breached, a short circuit can develop as the anode and cathode come into contact, allowing the LIB’s stored energy to be rapidly released. This short circuit creates heat buildup, which can then trigger thermal runaway in other cells.”
Highly Populated Areas See the Most Fires
Fire Rover’s recent study revealed that the ten areas with the most reported waste and recycling facility fires in the past seven years correlated to their respective populations. The list includes California, Ohio, Texas, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada.
Examination of the data uncovered that certain states were markedly prone to different types of fire occurrences; California, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Massachusetts experienced the most cases of waste, paper, and plastic fires.
Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and Colorado had more metal-related fires than other states. While Florida and California stood out for having the most organics-related fires.
Fogelman’s research revealed that 32 states have seen a rise in facility fires compared to their six-year averages, including Texas, Maine, and Michigan. This has resulted in 56 direct and indirect injuries as well as two fatalities, all due to fire-related tragedies.
A Demand for More Education and Strict Regulations
Fogelman believes that the rising number of fires in facilities can be reduced with better education for both citizens and firefighters. He proposed larger outreach initiatives and deeper investments in training programs as a way of informing individuals about how to properly dispose of items, and the dangers associated with improper disposal.
Also, Firefighters could be greatly aided in response efforts when it comes combating facility fires, according to Fogelman. He additionally suggested that operators should offer insight into the layout of facilities, and pinpoint where water sources are located.
“We’ve got to make sure that the fire departments have enough equipment and are able to fight these fires,” he said.
“The Waste Sector Needs Help”
To reduce the frequency of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, one possible solution is to implement legislation that is modeled after extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations.
Some view EPR policy as a potential issue, however, Fogelman suggested in his report that “battery manufacturers need to be held responsible for the products they bring to market and the costs their products create down the supply chain.”
“Currently, our operators and fire professionals who protect our facilities are footing the bill for the costs generated by fires,” Fogelman said in the report. “The waste sector needs help from governments and associations, but it also deserves support from battery manufacturers. We need to hold the entire lithium-ion battery supply chain accountable for the products it manufactures—not because the battery producers are evil corporations but simply because they should be good stewards in sharing the benefits and costs of their products.”
The report predicts that despite initiatives such as education, outreach and legislation, fire incidents at facilities are likely to rise in the future. This is due to the rapid proliferation of lithium-ion batteries throughout the market.
“It’s pretty clear that we’re seeing an increase in these fires, and they’re not going anywhere, anytime soon,” Fogelman said.
IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) Could Help to Reduce Fire Risks
When dealing with unwanted or outdated electronic equipment, the practice of proper IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) is essential to ensure a safe and responsible decommissioning process. Organizations, or individual people, can utilize an ITAD service to dispose of virtually any IT asset or household item that has a plug or contains a battery.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers articulates that, “The single most important intervention in reducing battery fires at MRFs is to eliminate any lithium-ion products from getting into the recycling stream. This includes building out a dedicated system to properly collect and manage products containing lithium-ion batteries at their end of life.” Further explaining that “The fires at MRFs are primarily caused by lithium-ion batteries that are inappropriately included in curbside recycling bins, and mistakenly transported to MRFs.”
In order to mitigate the fire risk of lithium-ion batteries specifically, IT asset disposition (ITAD) providers adhere to a distinct set of industry safety standards. This includes a selection of tools and processes that have been authorized as safe for battery removal. To offer an even higher level of protection, ITAD providers are exploring the possibility of creating a system with the capability to identify when lithium-ion batteries become discharged, or discharge them at an accelerated rate while still maintaining security. When batteries are improperly disposed of, fires are far more likely to erupt at material recovery facilities (MRFs).
Companies that partner with an ITAD provider can benefit in multiple ways, such as reducing corporate risk, slashing costs, extracting maximum value from assets, and promoting sustainability. This is done by assuring that all used, or end-of-life equipment is handled appropriately, and in line with the principles of the circular economy.
There are numerous factors that need to be considered in reducing the rate of MRF fires, however, readily available ITAD services could play a critical role in aiding this problem.
