SHOREWAY BATTERY FIRE HAZARD MITIGATION

SBWMA BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 16, 2017

MRF Fire Video

MRF Fire Damage

Shoreway MRF Fire - September 2016

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Fire Impacts to Agency • MRF Down for 3-months• Building & Equipment Restoration took 1-year• $8.5 Million Restoration Cost• New Insurance Policy Challenges

Cause Undetermined – Fire video signature points to Lithium Ion Battery multi-pack or electronic item.

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LI Battery Shoreway Parking Lot Demo (June 2017)

Shoreway Fire Log (SBR, 2017)

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- Handling LI batteries at MRFs is going to result in fires.

- MRFs across the country are experiencing increased fires from Lithium-Ion batteries.

- The Recycling industry is just waking up to the hazard.

- Quantity and potency of LI batteries is increasing each year without adequate protections.

- LI battery manufacturers do not provide adequately battery recovery opportunities.

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“Lithium-ion battery fires are an increasing threat to the Shoreway MRF” Lithium-based Battery Risk Assessment,

RRS Consulting

“Residents and businesses are putting batteries in the recycling cart”

Summary SBWMA‐Wide Total Batteries/Year

Battery Inflow by Source Tons / Year % of TotalLoose to MRF "Blue Bin" 26                 25%Curbside Battery Collection Program 42                 40%Public Drop‐off at Shoreway 36                 34%

Totals 104               100%

Quantity of Rechargeable Batteries Processed Loose at the Shoreway MRF

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5 Lithium-Ion batteries per hour9 NiCad Batteries per hour

Shoreway MRF ‐ Batteries Recovered/YearAnnualized Extrapolation of MRF Battery Recovery Analysis

Battery Type # Batteries Total Lbs/Yr Tons/ Yr % totalLithium‐Based 10,421           1,664              1                      3.2%NiCad 17,794           3,218              2                      6.1%Alkaline  590,335         33,925           17                    64.3%Lead‐Acid 1,695              13,987           7                      26.5%

Totals 620,246         52,793           26                   

Approaches to Battery Fire Risk Mitigation

1. Facility Level: Prevent fires that do occur at the Shoreway facilities from causing damage to the buildings and equipment.

2. Program Level: 1. Prevent businesses and residents from putting batteries in the

recycling and waste carts2. Prevent batteries from entering the MRF & TS.

3. Policy Level: Extended producer responsibility (EPR)

Building Fire Suppression System – advanced water and foam overhead sprinkler system for MRF and TS.

Multiple Fire Expert review of fire systems and recommendations

Structural Enhancements:

30 handheld fire extinguishers added to supplement minimum required by Building Code.

10 water-drops with hose reels added around MRF and TS for location-based fire fighting.

5 - with Carts added to the MRF and TS tip floor for location based fire fighting.

F-500 Fire Suppression Agent added to fire extinguishers

Building sprinkler system extended into areas of MRF Equipment where materials are stored (e.g., paper bunkers, plastic bunkers)

Building sprinkler system extended into MRF screens (where fire occurred).

PENDING: Remote Fire monitoring system (Fire Rover)

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Shoreway Enhancements - Structural

Development of Fire Hazard Mitigation Plan (addition to SBR’s Emergency Response Plan)

Sorter training on LI Battery hazard and response

Enhance All-employee fire safety training depth and frequency.

Discontinue second-shift MRF processing.

Policy to minimize “material storage “fuel” at MRF and TS.

Policy of daily clearing of all materials from MRF sort system at end of shift.

Rigorous housekeeping program implemented.

24/7 onsite coverage - security service patrol on weekends and off-hours.

PENDING: Onsite Fire fighting service support off-hours.

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Shoreway Enhancements - Operational

Battery Fire Solution Areas Recommended Stakeholders & Action Steps

nted by the fire hazard to the Shoreway facility, the Staff

Table 1. Battery Fire Solution Areas Recommended Stakeholders & Action Steps# Stakeholder SBWMA Action Steps1 SBR/Shoreway Enhance Shoreway fire suppression and employee training to prevent LI battery fires from

damaging the MRF and TS.

2 Recology Coordinated outreach and enforcement to ensure that battery collection is performed according to the battery collection program guidelines.

3 Residents & Businesses

Engage residents and businesses in the redesign and pilot of a new curbside battery collection program that eliminates batteries in the Blue Bin.

4 Battery Industry

Work with LI battery manufacture to: 1) procure battery program grant funds to cover Agency handling costs, 2) make batteries safe to handle in MRFs and “self-identifying” through RFID chips when discarded into solid waste collection and processing systems.

5 Local Governments

Collaborate and build a coalition with other Bay Area governments to build support for local battery ordinances and extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations.

6 State Government

Support California Product Stewardship Council and others in expanding EPR to include batteries and have costs and risks assigned to battery manufactures.