When Fort Fairfield launched a lithium battery recycling program last year, the aim was to cut the number of battery-sparked fires at the Tri-Community Landfill.
A year later, the battery fires are still lighting trash ablaze, and the first recycling barrel isn’t even full.
The town started the free community program last September to offer residents an easier option than traveling 8 or so miles to the landfill. But so far, there aren’t many takers.
“We were prepared for a massive response, and we unfortunately haven’t seen that yet,” he said. “But I think primarily the reason people put their batteries in the trash is that they don’t know not to.”
Since the program started, the landfill has had eight battery-related fires. During two of those, fire crews spent days at the site and operations had to be modified temporarily. If more residents recycled their batteries, the landfill…
