James B. Quattrone Sheriff at Chautauqua County | Official website
James B. Quattrone Sheriff at Chautauqua County | Official website
Chautauqua County officials are calling for community involvement to prevent landfill fires by disposing of rechargeable batteries properly. A recent fire at the county landfill in Ellery underscored the importance of safe battery recycling.
Aaron Gustafson, Landfill Manager and Deputy Director of Public Facilities, emphasized the dangers posed by improperly discarded rechargeable batteries, especially Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs). "Rechargeable batteries, especially Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs), can cause fires in waste facilities if they’re thrown out with regular trash," he stated. He highlighted that residential fires have also been caused by these batteries, stressing the need for proper use and disposal to ensure safety.
Gustafson noted that battery-related fires threaten waste facility employees and public safety. He remarked on the increasing frequency of such incidents: “We’re seeing the effects firsthand—fires at waste facilities are becoming more common, causing delays, raising costs, and straining our community resources.”
Residents are encouraged to dispose of rechargeable batteries at designated drop-off locations rather than with regular trash. New York State law requires retailers selling these batteries to provide collection services for used ones, with manufacturers covering recycling costs.
In Chautauqua County, residents can recycle their rechargeable batteries at various locations including Home Depot and Walmart in Dunkirk and Jamestown areas. Additional sites can be found through call2recycle.org/Locator.
Gustafson urged community participation in preventing future fires: “By making the effort to recycle batteries properly, we can protect our landfill, our workers, and our community.” Safe disposal is also critical at county transfer stations which face similar risks from improperly discarded batteries.
Residents are reminded not to place batteries in regular trash at any transfer stations across the county. By adhering to proper disposal practices, they can help prevent fires and ensure public safety.
Alerts Sign-up