RECYCLE BATTERIES SAFELY!

Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of everyday devices, from laptops and power tools to toys and e-mobility devices.

All of Canada has seen a concerning rise in lithium-ion battery fires, which pose a significant threat to our community and put our workers and facilities at risk.

We urge our community members to take the time to adopt safe battery practices and recycle their used batteries through the offered recycling program at the Drumheller & District Regional Landfill.

Below is a few safety tips to follow:

Recycle your batteries to prevent fires. Never throw batteries into the trash.
• Batteries can cause sparks if they come into contact with debris.
• Lithium batteries can be damaged in garbage trucks and cause fires at waste processing centres.
• Batteries can overheat if left outdoors.

Household battery safety tips
• Never store new and used batteries together.
• Store batteries in a cool, dry place.
• Keep batteries out of reach of young children.
• Protect the terminals on used batteries for recycling by taping the terminals.

Please let the scale attendants know that you have batteries to recycle and they will direct you to the proper recycle location.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Drumheller District Solid Waste Management Association (DDSWMA) urges their member municipalities (listed below) and the communities within to

‘Protect What Matters. Be Battery Safe.’

• Kneehill County
• Village of Acme
• Village of Linden
• Starland County
• Village of Beiseker
• Village of Morrin
• Wheatland County
• Village of Carbon
• Village of Munson
• Town of Drumheller: (Nacmine, Rosedale, Wayne, Cambria, East Coulee)
• Village of Delia
• Village of Rockyford
• Village of Hussar
• Village of Standard 
• Town of Trochu

 New battery safety initiative to raise awareness & help prevent safety incidents

As of May 9, 2025 – the DDSWMA is partnering with Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling organization, to raise awareness about battery safety through its national initiative, Protect What Matters. Be Battery Safe. This collaboration aims to prevent battery-related fires and protect people, property, and the environment by adopting safe and responsible battery handling and recycling practices.

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries power a wide range of everyday devices, from laptops and power tools to toys and e-mobility devices, including e-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards. While they bring incredible benefits, they are causing increased fire incidents across Canada, endangering lives, communities, and our environment.

This growing trend underscores the need for stronger consumer education on battery safety. The DDSWMA and Call2Recycle’s consumer battery recycling program, Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!, are collaborating to raise awareness on responsible battery purchasing, use, handling, and disposal to avoid potential risks.

"We're seeing a concerning rise in lithium-ion battery fires, which pose a significant threat to our community and put our workers and facilities at risk,” said DDSWMA “We urge our community members to take the time to adopt safe battery practices and recycle their used batteries through the 'Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!' program to protect themselves and our community.”

When batteries reach their end-of-life, recycling is critical in our fight to keep our communities safe, address climate change, and build a strong circular economy. By responsibly recycling batteries, hazardous materials are kept out of the garbage and Canadian landfills. Recycling also allows for the recovery and re-use of valuable resources, which can be used in the manufacturing of new products, like stainless steel products or even new batteries.

"We applaud the DDSWMA for taking a proactive approach to battery safety education," says Jon McQuaid, VP of Marketing, Communications & Innovation at Call2Recycle Canada. "Through 'Protect What Matters. Be Battery Safe.,' we're working with communities across Canada to provide Canadians with the knowledge they need to make safe and responsible choices about battery use and recycling."

The urges residents to Collect, Protect, and Drop Off to ‘Be Battery Safe’

• NEVER throw away batteries in the garbage or blue bins.
• Collect batteries in non-metal containers and store them safely.
• Protect batteries by covering exposed terminals with tape or bagging before storing or dropping them off for recycling.
• Drop Off batteries for recycling at 2500 highway 10 East Drumheller (DDSWMA) or find a location near you at recycleyourbatteries.ca.

For more information about how to ‘Protect What Matters. Be Battery Safe’, visit Drumhellerlandfill.com or RecycleYourBatteries.ca/battery-safety/.