Watt's The Buzz About Lithium Batteries

‘Watt’s’ the Buzz AboutLithium BatteriesBackground and Recycling Information

Agenda Overview of Batteries How the Environmental Protection Agency became involved Challenges of end-of-life batteries Other federal activities Pipeline and Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration batteryshipping trainingU.S. Environmental Protection Agency2

Background Batteries power a world withoutwires Consumers want smaller, moreportable devices New battery chemistries meansmaller, more powerful,batteries More batteries are being used inmore applicationsU.S. Environmental Protection Agency3

Lithium BatteriesThere are two types of lithium batteries: Primary batteries, non-rechargeable that uselithium metal; often in an AA, 9V, or coin cellformat. Secondary batteries, rechargeable lithiumpolymer cells use an electrolyte and thinporous membrane that allows Li-ions to passbetween the anode and cathode; come invarious shapes and sizes.Compared to other batteries types, lithiumbatteries offer: Higher energy, densities, Lighter weights, Higher voltages; And Li-Poly batteries may still have a 30% stateof charge, even though the device won’toperate.Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Cell - Argonne National LabU.S. Environmental Protection Agency4

Lithium Batteries are Different They can have higher energydensities and voltages A lithium-ion may still havesome charge in a ‘dead’ product The electrolyte is flammablewhen it meets air They can be hard to access oridentify in productsU.S. Environmental Protection Agency5

How did batteries get EPA staff’s attention? Batteries were identified as limitingthe reuse and recycling ofelectronic products. Justified product safety concernswere impacting end-of-lifemanagement. Batteries are showing up in moreproducts and smaller packagesthan ever. Do consumers know what to dowith used batteries?U.S. Environmental Protection Agency6

How did batteries get EPA staff’s attention? Electronics recyclers mentioned problems removing batteries and anincrease of fires at their facility. EPA staff learned that lithium batteries are affecting multiple industries:electronics recycling, material recovery facilities, C&D recyclers, autoshredding, and transportation providers. Examples: A battery-initiated fire led to a multimillion-dollar recovery effort at a Californiamaterial recover facility A battery explosion on a freight train in Houston made headlines Chicago area C&D recycler shreds a battery and starts a major fire7

Thermal Events at ElectronicsRecyclers Removing glued/imbedded batteries can damagethe battery. Thermal events happen during repair, reuse, orrecycling, or during shredding if the battery is notremoved. In this example a worker was opening a tabletcomputer. Workers are trained to respond when an eventhappens.Photo credit:Cascade Asset Management2018-2019U.S. Environmental Protection Agency8

Lithium Battery - a Safety and SustainabilityissueSustainability Issue: If the batteries are not able to be removed: Reuse of electronics products decreases Recycling/recovery (e.g., can’t shred)decreasesSafety Issue: May become a fire hazard to the facility,vehicles, and a safety issue to the workers. Identification of lithium batteries and properhandling could reduce the risk of incidents. Workers across the supply chain are beingtrained.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency9

Battery Production Volume is Expected toIncrease The volume of installed lithiumion batteries is expected toincrease: 32 GWh installed in 2015 2045 GWh in 2045 Applications continue to expand: Personal and public transportation Portable electronics and tools Energy storage Demand for crucial materials willincrease.Source BloombergNEFU.S. Environmental Protection Agency10

Future Availability: Competition from Other Al-AutomotiveEnergyIndustrialFrom: Althaf, S., Babbitt, C.W. Madaka, H.,Gaustad, G., Flynn, C. 2019. “SustainableMaterials Management Metrics to AssessConsumer Technology – Phase 3. A report tothe Staples Sustainable Innovation Lab andthe Consumer Technology Association0%50%100%U.S. Environmental Protection Agency11

How do batteries get recycled? Collection points receive used batteries: Retail or HHW – for public collection of rechargeablebatteries or certain devices with rechargeable batteries Private collection bins - for commercial generators ofrechargeable batteries Electronics recyclers – are removing batteries from devices Batteries are properly packed and shipped to a sortingfacility or a processor There are two main processes used to recover materials Pyro-metallurgical (using high temperatures) Hydro-metallurgical (using acids to dissolve materials)Cascade Asset Management12

Depending on their specific chemistry, used batteries canexhibit one or more of the characteristics of hazardous wasteper 40 CFR part 261 Subpart C.Hazardous waste batteries may be regulated as “universalwaste” per 40 CFR part 273.RCRARegulationof UsedHousehold batteries are exempt from the hazardous wasteBatteries standards and are not affected by the universal wasteregulations. Batteries from facilities with very small quantitygenerator status are also not affected by the universal wasteregulations.EPA’s Universal Waste Website: https://www.epa.gov/hw/universal-wasteUniversal Waste Frequent Questions: iversal-waste13

Lithium-ion Battery: Federal Government Activities U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Webinars: SMM Web Academy and Solving the Ewaste Problem (StEP) Domestic and international presentations, panels and other industry engagement New webpages: general batteries and lithium-ion batteries U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials SafetyAdministration: DOT/EPA are working together to inform electronics and battery recyclers on packaging, labeling andtransportation. DOT regulatory/enforcement activities U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Lab and the Office of EnergyEfficiency & Renewable Energy: Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize Research, development and verification of new battery formulations and recycling techniques U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Participating in voluntary standard activities related to batteries in consumer products Receives consumer complaints and manufacturer and retailer reports involving hazards associated withbatteries and battery chargersU.S. Environmental Protection Agency14

For more information: Contact: Chris Newman EPA Region 5 newman.christopherm@epa.gov Kathy Lett EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery lett.kathy@epa.gov

Lithium Battery Recycling and ReusePresented by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials SafetyAdministration (PHMSA)

ContactJordan RiveraDOT-PHMSAOutreach & EngagementJordan.Rivera@dot.gov(202) 407-0151Neal SuchakDOT-PHMSAHMSATNeal.Suchak@dot.gov(202) 839-0498-2-

Disclaimer: These slides areinformational and DOT alwaysadvises you use the HazardousMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49CFR Parts 171-180) whendetermining compliance-3-

Why Is This Important?-4-

Why Is This Important? High energy densities Potential short circuiting leading to thermalrunaway Past recycling-related incidents Expected exponential increases volumes-5-

Implications of High Energy DensityVideo courtesy of the University of Michigan College of Engineering-6-

Thermal Runaway-7-

Houston, TX – 2017-8-

Workshop Agenda- 10 -

Workshop Agenda Part I: Overview of DOT/PHMSAPart II: DOT/PHMSA’s Role in the Supply ChainPart III: How DOT/PHMSA Regulations WorkPart IV: Special TopicsPart V: Compliance Resources- 11 -

Part I:Overview of DOT/PHMSA- 12 -

Overview of DOT/PHMSADOT Operating SAFHWASLSDCPHMSAOHMSU.S. Department of Transportation Headquarters – Washington, DCOPS- 13 -

PHMSA Regional es- 14 -

PHMSA Mission “Our mission is to protect people and theenvironment by advancing the safe transportationof energy and other hazardous materials that areessential to our daily lives”- 15 -

Federal Hazmat Law “Protect against the risks to life, property, and theenvironment which are inherent in thetransportation of hazardous materials in intrastate,interstate, and foreign commerce”49 U.S.C. Section 5101 et seq.- 16 -

PHMSA ResponsibilitiesRegulations Rulemakings Letters of InterpretationEnforcement Inspections Multi-Agency Strike ForceOperationsSpecial Permits andApprovals Approvals for Fireworks orSelf-Reactive materials Special Permits forpackagingOutreach andEngagement Publications HMSAT Workshops or conferences- 17 -

Part II:DOT/PHMSA’s Role in the SupplyChain- 18 -

DOT in the Supply ChainOversight Over the Transportation ProcessIdentification andClassification (collection/sorting)Packaging and HazardCommunicationMovement- 19 -

Part III:How DOT/PHMSA RegulationsWork- 20 -

Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) The HMR govern the packaging and safetransportation of hazardous materials by highway,air, rail, and water Covers Identification and ClassificationHazard CommunicationPackaging RequirementsOperational Rules- 21 -

Section 173.185 of the HMR Section 173.185 in the HMR addressesrequirements for lithium batteries, including theexceptions for recycling lithium batteries:1. Classification/ UN38.3 TestingParagraph (a)2. PackagingParagraph (b)4. Disposal/RecyclingExceptionsParagraph (d)3. “Small” batteryexceptionsParagraph (c)5. Damaged,Defective, Recalled(DDR) RequirementsParagraph (f)- 22 -

Disposal/Recycling ion/UN 38.3 TestingSmall BatteryExceptions*For motor vehicle transportation ONLYSpecificationPackaging49 CFR § 173.185(d)- 23 -

Batteries for ReuseDisposal/RecyclingExceptionsClassification/UN 38.3 TestingSmall BatteryExceptionsSpecificationPackaging- 24 -

Three Major Components2. Contain3.Communicate1. ClassifyCompliance- 25 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Hazard mmable Oxidizers andSolids Organic PeroxidesMiscellaneousPoison andInfectious SubstancesRadioactiveClass 9 Lithium Battery- 26 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Identification andClassification Batterymarkings Physicalcharacteristics Isolate DDRbatteriesBattery identification and classification is doneduring the sorting process- 27 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Type of LithiumBatteries Lithium Metal Metallic lithium or alloy Size measured in grams Generally notrechargeable (single-use) Typical configurations :coin cell, cylindrical, andrectangular Examples: watches,thermometers Lithium Ion Lithium compound Size measured in Watthours (Wh) Generally rechargeable Typical configurations:cylindrical, rectangular,and pouch packs Examples: laptops,tablets, cell phones,power tools- 28 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Lithium Metal- 29 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Lithium Ion- 30 -

1. Classify the Hazard – UN ID NumbersUN3480 Lithium Ion BatteriesUN3481 Lithium Ion Batteries Containedin/Packed with EquipmentUN3090 Lithium Metal BatteriesUN3091 Lithium Metal Batteries Containedin/Packed with Equipment- 31 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Energy Capacity The energy capacity of the lithium battery is animportant consideration – larger batteries andquantities are subject to increased regulation.Thresholds:Lithium Ion (SmallerBatteries) 100 Wh 300 Wh ground only*Lithium Metal (SmallerBatteries) 2g 25 g ground only** Additional hazard communication is required- 32 -

1. Classify the Hazard – Energy Capacity Watt-hour (Wh) Ampere-hours(Ah) x Volts (V) In the case ofmilliamperehour (mAh),divide by 1000 Under 100 Wh and qualifies for “Small”battery exception- 33 -

2. Contain the Hazard – Packaging- 34 -

2. Contain the Hazard – “Small” ConsumerLithium Batteries General Requirements Prevent short circuits Prevent damage causedby shifting Prevent accidentalactivation Prevent release ofcontents Packaging requirementsare performance-based Basic Configuration Inner packaging Cushioning material Outer packaging49 CFR § 173.185(b)(1)–(3)/(c)- 35 -