On the occasion of Battery Day on February 18, the Waste Electrical Equipment Coordination Center, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management, the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association and other industry representatives provided information about the risks of incorrectly disposed lithium batteries at a media event in Vienna. Incorrectly disposed batteries and rechargeable batteries are increasingly leading to fires in disposal and recycling companies in Austria.
A live experiment illustrated the potential hazards and the possible consequences for infrastructure, the environment and safety. If lithium batteries end up in residual waste, they are subjected to mechanical stress in waste collection vehicles or during sorting. Even minor damage can lead to short circuits and subsequently to fires.
The Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies recorded a total of 36 major fire incidents at disposal and recycling facilities in 2025. In several cases, incorrectly disposed lithium batteries and rechargeable batteries were suspected as a possible cause of fire. The damage not only affects plant operators, but also endangers employees and causes high property damage.
Interzero was represented at the event by Managing Director Thomas Glatz and supports companies in the legally compliant licensing and take-back of portable and industrial batteries as part of extended producer responsibility. As an approved collection and recycling system, Interzero organizes the proper collection, treatment and recycling of used batteries and ensures that legal requirements are complied with and volume flows are documented in a traceable manner. Separate collection is a central component of the Austrian system. Only if batteries are collected correctly can fire risks be reduced and valuable energy saved. resources recover.
For manufacturing companies, importers and retailers, this means clear licensing obligations, structured take-back systems and documented system participation. At the same time, internal collection and safety processes are becoming increasingly important in order to minimize risks in their own operations. With the gradual implementation of the EU Battery Ordinance, transparency, documentation and sustainability requirements are also increasing. This makes structured system participation even more relevant.
You can find further information here:
- in the press release of the BMLUK: https://www.bmluk.gv.at/service/presse.html
- in the Leadersnet report: https://www.leadersnet.at/news/97388,lithium-akkus-im-muell-verursachen-millionenschaeden.html
Would you like to review your collection and safety processes for used batteries? Talk to our team: zerowaste@interzero.at
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About Interzero:
Interzero is one of the leading service providers for closing product, material and logistics loops and an innovation leader in plastics recycling with the largest sorting capacity in Europe. Under the guiding principle of “zero waste solutions”, the company supports over 80,000 customers across Europe in the responsible handling of recyclable materials, helping them to improve their own sustainability performance and conserve primary resources. With around 2,000 employees, the company generates a turnover of over one billion euros (2021). According to Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Interzero’s recycling activities saved 1.04 million tons of greenhouse gases and 8.09 million tons of primary raw materials compared to primary production in 2024 alone. As a pioneer for the circular economy, Interzero is the winner of the German Sustainability Award 2024 and the corresponding special prize in the transformation field “Resources”. Further information can be found at www.interzero.at .
Find out more in our current brochure on ” resources SAVED by recycling “
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