Campaign to Strengthen Fire Prevention for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Let's dispose of lithium-ion batteries properly!

Campaign to Strengthen Fire Prevention for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In recent years, fires and other accidents caused by lithium-ion batteries have frequently occurred at waste disposal facilities and collection and transportation vehicles. In Fiscal Year 2023, 8,543 incidents occurred nationwide in municipalities, making it a serious issue.

Based on these issues, the Ministry of the Environment has designated the four-month period from September to December as the "Campaign to Strengthen Fire Prevention from Lithium-ion Batteries".

Fire Prevention Month for Lithium-Ion Batteries

During the campaign period, November is designated as the "Fire Prevention Month for Lithium-Ion Batteries", and in collaboration with related ministries such as the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and Consumer Affairs Agency, as well as manufacturers and Business Operators involved in processing, we will carry out awareness and educational activities to prevent fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.

Fire Incidents in Inagi City

In Inagi City as well, a fire broke out inside the pit of the "Clean Center Tamagawa" on Friday, June 27, 2025.

The exact cause has not been identified, but it cannot be ruled out that it was due to lithium-ion batteries being mixed in with the garbage.

Depending on the scale of the fire, extensive repairs may be necessary, and waste disposal may be unavailable for an extended period.

• A fire has occurred at the Tama River Clean Center

How to Dispose of Lithium-Ion Batteries

In the case of lithium-ion batteries only

1. Please put out your "hazardous waste" in transparent or semi-transparent bags once a month.
2. Small rechargeable batteries are also collected at the recycling boxes of designated recycling partner stores. Please search for recycling partner stores on the website of the Japan Battery Recycling Center (JBRC) for confirmation.
3. Please insulate the terminal parts of the battery with tape or similar before disposing of it.

In the case of home appliances with built-in lithium-ion batteries (batteries that cannot be removed)

1. If it is generally 50cm or less, please put it in a transparent or semi-transparent bag and dispose of it on the monthly "Hazardous Waste Day," or place it in one of the 11 small electronic device collection boxes in the city after insulating the terminal parts with tape or similar.
2. Items larger than 50cm should be disposed of as oversized garbage (reservation required).

• Let's dispose of "small rechargeable batteries" and "small electronic devices with non-removable rechargeable batteries" on the "hazardous waste" day.

Special site providing information on fire prevention caused by lithium-ion batteries

The Ministry of the Environment has launched a special website to further strengthen the dissemination of information on fire prevention related to lithium-ion batteries.

The special site will be updated regularly, so please make use of it.

• Lithium-ion Battery Special Site(External Link)