Seoul district rolls out 169 battery collection bins to curb fire risks

Jung District in central Seoul has sharply expanded its network of collection bins for discarded rechargeable batteries, betting that a simple change in disposal habits can help prevent fires before they start.

The district said Monday that it increased the number of dedicated battery collection bins from 49 to 169 by installing 120 additional units.

The expansion is intended to reduce fires linked to discarded lithium batteries while improving the recycling of valuable materials.

Rechargeable batteries are widely used in power banks, mobile phones, electronic cigarettes, wireless earbuds, smartwatches and tablet computers.

The district said the growing use of rechargeable electronic devices has led to a rapid increase in discarded batteries.

The amount of used batteries collected in Jung District doubled to 18 tons in 2025 from 9 tons in 2020.

Officials said discarded batteries can ignite if they are crushed or damaged during waste collection and processing.

Improperly disposed batteries have been identified as a major cause of fires at recycling facilities and in garbage trucks.

The distri ...