Washoe County to Get Lithium Battery Recycling Bins

A new initiative aims to make recycling lithium batteries easier and safer for Washoe residents.

Redwood Materials is partnering with Washoe County and Nevada Tech Hub to deploy 20 smart battery recycling bins across the state. The program will provide residents with places to recycle common household items that contain lithium batteries.

The program prevents lithium batteries from ending up in landfills, lowers fire risks, and recovers valuable materials for reuse in the domestic supply chain.

According to Redwood Materials, the smart receptacles incorporate several safety features, including temperature monitoring, sensors, and a fire-suppressant filler that dispenses between drops to help contain batteries. Unlike many recycling programs, the batteries placed in the bins do not need bagging or packaging beforehand.

In Northern Nevada, up to 10 of the recycling bins will be placed in Washoe County public buildings.

Nevada Tech Hub awarded $450,000 to Redwood Materials to fund construction and placement of the bins, along with staffing and other resources to operate the program.