Dumpsters.com Introduces Jobsite Protocol Recommendations for Lithium-Ion Battery Management

Promoting the Safe Management of Lithium-Ion Batteries on the Jobsite

Dumpsters.com, a waste management and site services company, today announced an industry-wide awareness campaign targeting the escalating lithium-ion battery crisis. The initiative focuses on educating project managers, general contractors and construction associations about the catastrophic fire hazards associated with disposing of lithium-ion batteries in standard construction waste streams, while providing practical blueprints to keep jobsites safe.

As construction sites transition to high-capacity cordless power tools, heavy-duty fleet machinery and complex electronic components, the prevalence of lithium-ion technology has reached an all-time high. When these industrial batteries reach their end of life or sustain physical damage, they are often thrown incorrectly into roll-off construction dumpsters, compactors or trash receptacles on jobsites and make it back to a disposal facility. This improper disposal triggers a volatile chemical reaction known as thermal runaway, causing explosive and toxic fires inside collection trucks and processing facilities.

"A crushed power tool or equipment battery hidden inside a roll-off dumpster is a literal ticking time bomb. When mixed with combustible C&D debris like wood, drywall paper, and plastics, a single spark can devastate a hauling vehicle, shut down a local recycling yard and severely endanger frontline workers,” said Kyle Braun, CEO of Dumpsters.com. “We are calling directly on our partners across national and regional construction associations to help us mandate strict battery segregation protocols upstream."

Jobsite Protocols Recommended by Dumpsters.com:To protect jobsites, equipment and disposal facilities, Dumpsters.com recommends construction companies implement the following protocols:

• Strict Zero-Tolerance Policy: Enforce a ban on disposing of any battery — including those from cordless drills, saws, laser levels and site communication gear — inside standard trash or recycling dumpsters.
• Establish Battery Drop Zones: Set up dedicated, weather-proof and climate-controlled collection bins explicitly labeled for spent or damaged lithium-ion batteries at a centralized jobsite location, separate from main waste collection points.
• Subcontractor Onboarding: Integrate battery safety and disposal guidelines into all pre-construction meetings and morning toolbox talks.
• Implement Puncture Management: Train safety officers to immediately isolate any battery showing signs of swelling, leaking, or physical damage. Store these batteries in non-conductive mediums like specialized fire suppression pillows or dry sand until safe recycling transport can be arranged.

​Data published by the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) underscores the sheer magnitude of this threat. The NWRA estimates that more than 5,000 fires occur annually at recycling and waste facilities in the United States alone — with a rapidly climbing percentage directly linked to improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries.

The industry-renowned Richard S. Burns Material Processing & Recycling Facility experienced a fire on June 12, 2026, believed to have been caused by an improperly disposed lithium-ion battery. This latest incident has sent shockwaves through the waste management community, prompting urgent safety reviews across companies and trade associations alike.

The industry’s leading associations, the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), the National Waste and Recycling Association and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), recently hosted a joint safety meeting to address the rising spike in disposal facility fires. As active members of both the CDRA and NWRA, Dumpsters.com attended the event to ensure the company is effectively navigating the lithium-ion battery crisis and supporting the highest safety compliance standards.
​
Find a Battery Drop-Off Location here

View the original news article here

Information courtesy of AGC of Ohio Member, Dumpsters.com. Dumpsters.com is an innovative waste management company that specializes in dumpster rentals and other site services. Founded in 2009, Dumpsters.com is based in Westlake, Ohio, and has a nationwide reach, providing dumpster rental services to homeowners, contractors and businesses alike.

---