A message from your county commissioner

Lithium-ion Batteries: What’s the Problem?

The use of lithium-ion batteries is increasing. With expanded use comes increased fire risk. When lithium-ion batteries are improperly disposed of, they can start a fire.

Lithium-ion batteries are easily damaged once they enter the waste stream. When they’re dropped, scraped, crushed or punctured, the lithium inside becomes exposed. When lithium combines with water, it produces highly flammable hydrogen and lithium hydroxide. This combination alone produces a spark.

When this happens inside a garbage or recycling truck or solid waste facility, the resulting spark can start a fire that has devastating consequences. Because the battery is surrounded by solid waste materials, which serve as fuel, the fire quickly spreads. The fire can get out of control and burn for weeks. A fire of this type has the potential to critically disrupt the Authority’s solid waste infrastructure.

How do I Identify a Lithium-ion Battery?

Lithium-ion batteries can be found in the following products (not an exhaustive list):

• Electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, computer peripherals, Bluetooth devices and smart wearables
• Power tools
• Remote car keys
• Vaping devices
• Game controllers
• Digital cameras
• Portable power packs
• Greeting cards
• Electric toothbrushes
• Toys
• Medical equipment
• Smoke/Fire/Carbon monoxide detectors
• E-bikes and e-scooters

The battery or device containing the battery may list its chemistry on the battery’s case, instruction manuals or product markings. There may also be symbols that state the chemistry or the chasing arrow symbol (three arrows forming a triangle) with the words “Li-ion” below it.

Can Lithium-ion Batteries be Recycled?

Some lithium-ion batteries have the chasing arrow symbol (three arrows forming a triangle) on them. This symbol means the battery can be recycled at specialized battery recyclers. But these batteries must never be placed into the recycling bin. If they end up in the bin, they can become damaged or crushed during processing and become a fire hazard.

Find one of seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers near you to drop off your lithium-ion batteries to be recycled. Note: E-bikes, e-scooters and mobility items may have large watt-hour batteries (>300W-H) that are not accepted by the Authority. We recommend contacting the manufacturer or retailer for recycling of these batteries.

Do Your Part and a Fire Won’t Start

So now that you understand the fire hazard associated with improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries, what can you do to be battery smart and fire smart?

Take charge of your waste! Never place lithium-ion batteries inside garbage or recycling carts or bins. Instead, properly dispose of them by taping the terminals and then dropping them off at one of the Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers to be recycled. We have seven convenient HCRC locations throughout the county. Most major retailers also accept batteries for free. Look for collection boxes inside the lobby or near the entrance or ask an associate for assistance.



Find an SWA Home Chemical and Recycling Center or retailer drop-off location near you.

Spread the word. Many people aren’t aware of the fire hazard associated with improper battery disposal. With consumers being one of the two primary groups at the lithium-ion battery end of life management chain (the other group being recyclers), it’s important for the broad consumer public to be informed about the hazards and best practices for disposing of lithium-ion batteries. Help us protect people and resources by spreading the word about the fire hazard posed by lithium-ion batteries.

The Palm Beach County Public Safety Department's Animal Care and Control Division (PBCACC) needs the community's help to adopt or foster as the number of pets in its care has risen to over 300. PBCACC's staff and volunteers are working overtime to ensure the best quality care, but they do not have enough space. With only 144 kennels and 200 dogs, two dogs are being placed in a single kennel.

To encourage adoptions, PBCACC is offering 50% off adoption fees. The fees for adult dogs have been reduced from $60 to $30, while the fees for cats and kittens have been reduced from $50 to $25. By adopting from PBCACC, the sole open-admission shelter in the county, individuals can provide deserving pets with a second chance at life. Many of these dogs and cats have been abandoned or surrendered through no fault of their own.

PBCACC encourages those interested in fostering or adopting to meet their perfect match in person. Pet's profiles can also be viewed online at https://secure.co.palm-beach.fl.us/snap/home. No appointment is needed. Adoption Center hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

PBCACC is located at 7100 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, just west of the Florida Turnpike. For more information, please call (561) 233-1200 or visit the website, www.pbcgov.com/animal.

Restoration Bridge International (RBI)

Founder Pastor Dan West's Story

In 2001, Pastor Daniel West began to witness more people suffering from hunger than ever before. He believed that there was enough food to go around and creating access for the poor, homeless, and marginalized to receive food became his top priority. It broke his heart to learn children were going to bed hungry in his community. He believed that if he gave what he could from his own pantry, God would provide more, and others would eventually come alongside him and help fight hunger. He asked the people of his local church to help fill up a pantry with non-perishable food. The first grocery store he spoke with, a local Publix store in Delray Beach, Florida, believed they could help him close the hunger gap in the community and we are still picking up food donations from them today. The food pantry that started in a church closet began serving 200 needy families with dry goods two days a week.

Pastor Dan saw firsthand how unexpected expenses could cause a low-income household to become food insecure. Witnessing people trying to decide if they should pay their electric bill or buy groceries moved him into further action. He was filled with compassion and made it his life's mission to help the food insecure one canned good at a time. Knowing how hard it can be to make daily ends meet, Pastor Dan serves those in need without judgment or hesitation. As he has provided for others, he has seen his own needs met, along with the needs of RBI at an organizational level.

"When you give from your heart with no intention of receiving anything back, it is incredible what happens, not just in yourself as a person, but in the community around you. People began showing up and meeting organizational needs beyond food; we began to receive refrigerated truck donations and a pallet jack donation for our warehouse facility. It has been and continues to be an incredible mission to be a part of. It doesn't matter your age or how much you have in your pantry or bank account, anyone can make a difference! People need to see kindness, love, mercy, and grace in action to know that they are not suffering alone, meeting people's provisional food needs has given them something beyond food, it has given them hope and people all over the world need hope."

- Pastor Dan West

RBI Founder & CEO

DECLARING

JUNE 19, 2023 AS JUNETEENTH DAY

WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 declaring enslaved people shall be free, and the Thirteenth Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and;

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a commemoration celebrating the emancipation of those who were kept in bondage in Texas two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and;

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger led troops into Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and the institution of slavery. Thousands of enslaved people in Texas were among the last to learn of their liberation, and;

WHEREAS, the commemorations that began in Texas spread around the nation with other communities joining in celebrating this milestone in the journey to freedom for all, and;

WHEREAS, Palm Beach County Community Services is proud to celebrate Juneteenth, and will host a cultural tour on June 12, 2023 highlighting the history of African Americans in Palm Beach County, and their sacrifices and contributions to our community, and:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, assembled in regular session this 6th day of June 2023, that June 19, 2023, in Palm Beach County, is hereby proclaimed

Juneteenth Day

BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this proclamation is duly sealed, ribboned and executed by the members of this Board. The foregoing proclamation was sponsored by Commissioner Michael Barnett, and upon unanimous consent of the Board, the Mayor declared the proclamation duly enacted.

Commissioner Barnett is dedicated to make county government more accessible to the residents of District 3. "We will begin having district office hours on a regular basis to make it easier for my constituents to access assistance from your county government," Barnett announced. Look for our office hours in our next newsletter!