At its July meeting the Bedford Energy Commission reminded residents that lithium-ion batteries cannot be thrown in household refuse and urged use of the transfer-station collection point.
Energy Commission member Matt McLaughlin said, “PSA, you cannot dispose of your lithium or ion batteries, and there is a bin or a location at the transfer station where you can place those.”
Another commission member noted the town website had not yet been updated to reflect the new guidance: “on the Bedford website, the town website, it's still not updated. There's no mention of that,” and commissioners said they would do outreach to community groups and post clearer information. McLaughlin said the transfer station has bright yellow signs in the recycle area marking battery drop-off.
Separately the commission discussed charging station usage at municipal parking and private workplaces and noted home charging tax credits and employer incentives may encourage office-based charging amenities. The commission emphasized that state and federal programs are the principal funding sources for public charging deployments and that available funding for Bedford is limited unless the state announces additional regranting.
Why it matters: Proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries reduces fire risk at transfer stations and recycling facilities; clear town communications help residents comply. Public and workplace charging influence commuting behavior and local infrastructure planning.
What the meeting did not do: No formal town policy change or funding acceptance was made at the meeting; the discussion was informational and focused on outreach and signage.