Dane County Launches Free September Battery Collection to Reduce Fire Risk

August 27, 2026
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive, Waste & Renewables

DANE COUNTY – Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and Dane County Waste & Renewables Director John Welch today announced Battery Collection Month at Dane County Clean Sweep, an effort to make it easier for residents to safely dispose of batteries and battery-containing devices while raising awareness about the growing risk of battery-related fires.

Throughout September, Dane County residents can bring household batteries and battery-containing devices to Clean Sweep for disposal at no charge during normal operating hours. The program is limited to one load per resident per week.

Batteries are increasingly common in everyday products, including cell phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, toys, smoke detectors, remote controls, and even some greeting cards.

When batteries are placed in household trash or recycling, they can be crushed, punctured, or overheated during collection and processing. Damaged batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, can enter a process known as thermal runaway, causing extremely hot fires that can be difficult to extinguish.

“Batteries have become part of almost every aspect of our daily lives, but they do not belong in our trash or recycling,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “Taking a few extra minutes to dispose of a battery properly can help protect our sanitation workers, our waste facilities, our environment, and our entire community. By offering free battery collection throughout September, we want to make the safe choice as easy as possible for Dane County residents.”

Battery-related fires have become an increasing concern for waste and recycling facilities nationwide. Thousands of fires occur at these facilities each year, and lithium-ion batteries are increasingly associated with serious incidents. In 2023, a lithium-ion battery caused a fire that destroyed the Columbia County Recycling Center in neighboring Columbia County.

“Once a battery enters a trash or recycling collection system, there are many opportunities for it to be crushed or damaged, whether that is in a collection truck or during processing at a facility,” County Executive Agard continued. “These fires can develop very quickly and put workers, equipment, and essential infrastructure at risk. The best way to prevent them is to keep batteries out of the waste stream altogether and bring them to a facility like Clean Sweep where they can be managed safely.”

Dane County Clean Sweep provides residents with a reliable option for safely disposing of household hazardous materials, including paints, pesticides, cleaners, electronics, batteries, and battery-containing devices. Clean Sweep operates six days a week and helps keep potentially dangerous materials out of Dane County’s waste stream.

Residents are encouraged to check their homes for old, damaged, or unwanted batteries and battery-powered devices and bring them to Clean Sweep during September.

For additional information about Clean Sweep, accepted materials, and hours of operation, residents can visit the Dane County Waste & Renewables website - https://landfill.danecounty.gov/