Don’t just throw the battery in the trash can when it’s used up! Ex-firefighter warns that fires can also be caused by "lack of electricity"

At home, we use batteries every day. Although many home appliances have switched to rechargeable designs, some such as TV remote controls, game controllers, automatic fragrance dispensers or children's toys still need to use ordinary alkaline batteries. Many people will throw the battery directly into the trash after it is used up, but did you know? This habit is actually quite dangerous.

"Dead batteries" can also cause fires

Former American firefighter Alexandra Fisher recently reminded on Instagram, "Battery must not be thrown into the trash can!" She pointed out that even old batteries that have been discharged may still catch fire due to the current generated by the contact between the positive and negative terminals. "As long as two batteries touch together and form a conduction, sparks can be generated and even ignite household garbage." She suggested that when temporarily storing used batteries, people can use tape to tape the positive and negative terminals of the battery to prevent accidents caused by contact with each other.

{99 9} Not only fire, but also environmental pollution.

In addition to the risk of fire, if discarded batteries are mixed into general garbage landfills, toxic chemicals may leak out due to corrosion of the casing, causing soil and groundwater contamination. In the United States, most states allow alkaline batteries to be thrown away with household waste, but lithium batteries must be sent to designated recycling centers. In the UK, all batteries are prohibited from being thrown into household waste. They can be taken to supermarkets or stores that sell batteries for recycling. Some areas also have recycling bins for the public to put in.

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Post shared by Alexandra Fisher (@themommyconfessions)

Netizens exclaimed: "How come I only know now!"

This video caused a lot of discussion, and many netizens said that they had no idea that batteries could cause fires in the past. Someone left a message saying: "I have never heard of this in my life, and we are still alive!" Others asked: "So can't you just put all the old batteries in the same bag?"

No matter which country you live in, never throw batteries directly into the trash or recycling bin. Before recycling, be sure to seal both ends of the battery with tape and store it properly to avoid fire risks and do your part for the environment.