Garland, Texas — As extreme temperatures continue across North Texas, the City of Garland is warning residents not to dispose of batteries in their household trash, saying the common mistake can significantly increase the risk of fires in garbage trucks and waste processing facilities.
City officials shared the safety reminder during the ongoing extreme heat warning, encouraging residents to properly recycle or dispose of batteries instead of placing them in curbside trash bins.
Why Batteries Become More Dangerous in Extreme Heat
According to the City of Garland, discarded batteries are the leading cause of fires in waste collection trucks and recycling facilities.
Officials explained that when batteries are crushed, punctured or otherwise damaged during the trash collection process, they can short-circuit, overheat and quickly ignite nearby combustible materials.
The risk becomes even greater during periods of extreme heat, when higher temperatures can contribute to battery overheating and make fires spread more rapidly.
City leaders are reminding residents that even small household batteries should never be tossed into regular trash containers.
Improper Disposal Can Lead to Costly Fires
Waste collection vehicles compact trash while making their routes, which can easily damage batteries hidden inside garbage bags.
Once punctured, certain batteries—especially rechargeable lithium-ion batteries commonly found in electronics, tools, toys and other household devices—can rapidly catch fire.
These fires can threaten sanitation workers, damage expensive collection equipment and create dangerous conditions at waste management facilities.
By disposing of batteries properly, residents can help reduce the risk of preventable fires and improve safety for both workers and the community.
Where Garland Residents Can Safely Dispose of Batteries
Instead of placing batteries in household garbage, the City of Garland recommends taking them to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center.
The facility is located at:
11234 Plano Road
Officials say the collection center provides a safer way to dispose of batteries and other household hazardous materials that should not be placed in regular trash.
Residents are encouraged to review local disposal guidelines before throwing away batteries or other potentially hazardous items.
City Encourages Residents to Follow Safe Disposal Practices
With extreme temperatures expected to continue, Garland officials are asking residents to take extra precautions when handling household waste.
Proper battery disposal is a simple step that can help prevent fires, protect sanitation workers and reduce damage to waste collection vehicles and facilities.
As summer heat continues across Texas, officials hope the reminder will encourage more residents to use approved recycling and hazardous waste collection sites instead of household trash bins.
Do you recycle your household batteries or were you unaware they shouldn’t go in the trash? Share your thoughts and tips for safe battery disposal in the comments below.
