DAVENPORT—You can help prevent fires at solid waste facilities. Keep lithium and rechargeable batteries out of your garbage and recycling carts, and drop them off for proper disposal, instead.

Lithium and rechargeable batteries — those often found inside electronics such as laptops and cell phones — have been blamed for numerous recent fires at recycling centers and landfills around the United States. These preventable fires can damage public and private property, harm workers and the environment, and can even cause loss of life.

For these reasons, Waste Commission of Scott County is urging residents and businesses to keep these types of batteries out of the garbage and recycling streams, where they can become damaged and catch fire, quickly igniting large quantities of refuse.

Instead, lithium and rechargeable batteries should be dropped off for proper disposal at the Electronic Demanufacturing Facility 1048 E. 59th St., Davenport. There is no cost for residents of Scott and Rock Island counties, and no appointments are necessary. Businesses may drop off batteries for a small fee. Alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries are considered trash and should be thrown away.

“We provide a convenient and responsible solution for disposing of potentially hazardous batteries, and we urge everyone to use it for the health and safety of our community,” said Commission Director Kathy Morris.

The Electronic Demanufacturing Facility is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of each month. No appointment is necessary, and there is no charge for residents of Scott and Rock Island Counties.

Not sure how to dispose of something? Visit www.wastecom.com and click the big green button to search the database.

Waste Commission of Scott County is an inter-governmental agency whose mission is to provide environmentally sound and economically feasible solid waste management for Scott County. For more information about the Commission, please call (563) 381-1300 or visit www.wastecom.com.

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