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Council warns residents after lithium-battery fire at material-recovery facility
Summary
Council members described a recent indoor fire at the regional material recovery facility caused when a loader exposed a buried lithium battery. The city urged residents to stop placing large lithium batteries in household trash and noted a disposal area at the facility.
South Weber officials warned residents on June 9 after a worker at the Material Recovery Facility (MURF) discovered a smoldering pile that erupted when a buried lithium battery was exposed to oxygen.
The council member introducing the item said the fire occurred inside the facility and that the facility’s sprinkler system likely prevented worse damage, but that an overnight ignition could have caused significantly greater harm. "Please, please, please do not throw your lithium batteries in the trash," the speaker said, urging residents to use the facility’s disposal area for batteries and chemicals.
Council members described the on-site disposal shelf located past the MURF gate and highlighted the facility’s thrift store, which last month set a sales record of $25,598. The council encouraged donations to the thrift store and proper disposal of hazardous items rather than placing them in household waste.
No formal action was recorded; council members asked staff to amplify public messaging about battery disposal and to coordinate with the regional facility to prevent repeat incidents.
