Photo/Illutration A fire caused by a lithium-ion battery at a garbage disposal facility in Niigata in 2017 (Provided by Niigata city)

Lithium-ion batteries are believed to have caused 21,751 fires and smoke events in fiscal 2023, the highest number since the Environment Ministry started a survey in fiscal 2019.

The incidents were reported inside refuse collection vehicles and at garbage disposal facilities.

The ministry believes that the growing use of the rechargeable batteries in mobile batteries, heated tobacco products and other devices is driving the increase.

Ministry officials are calling on consumers to properly dispose of dead batteries.

The ministry survey covered 1,741 municipalities nationwide.

About 30 percent of respondents reported fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in fiscal 2023, including suspected cases.

Of the 15,145 fires, more than 50 percent were put out with extinguishers and other hand-operated devices, but 40 percent required dousing with sprinklers or other equipment.

In 3,606 incidents, smoke emanated without causing a fire. Sparks flew in 2,343 incidents.

Lithium-ion batteries can combust when they are crushed under pressure in refuse collection vehicles or at garbage disposal facilities.

Municipal officials said devices found at the sites of fires include mobile batteries, heated tobacco products, cordless vacuum cleaner batteries and wireless earphones.

Recycling bins for lithium-ion batteries have been placed at mass appliance stores and government offices.

But only about 75 percent of municipalities collected used batteries and products from which they cannot be removed as of fiscal 2023.

In revised garbage disposal guidelines released in March, the Environment Ministry called on municipalities to place recycling bins at facilities easily accessible by residents and conduct active public relations campaigns about the collection system.

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