Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office

A Division of The Department of Public Safety

Our mission is to identify, develop, and promote ways and means of protecting life and property from fire-related perils through direct action and coordination of Utah Fire Services.

Fire Prevention Week 2026

Campaign Overview & Theme - The State Fire Marshal's Office supports the NFPA's national efforts to raise awareness of household fire safety

Theme: “Charge Into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.”
Focus: Reducing the risk of lithium-ion battery fires by teaching everyday safe charging and handling habits for household electronics.
Resources: You can download official campaign toolkits, lesson plans, and printables directly through the NFPA Fire Prevention Week Portal.

Public Brief: Safe Battery Disposal & Recycling (October 2026)

IT IS ILLEGAL TO THROW AWAY REGULATED BATTERIES.

Under federal regulations (EPA 40 CFR Part 273) and state laws, discarding regulated batteries in household trash or abandoning them in the environment is prohibited. Safe disposal requires using designated channels.

Know Your Batteries: Regulated vs. Unregulated

Unregulated (Standard Alkaline): Everyday AA, AAA, C, and D batteries do not contain hazardous heavy metals. In some states, they can be safely disposed of in regular household trash, though recycling is environmentally preferred.
Regulated (Rechargeables, Lithium & Lead-Acid): Lithium-ion (phones, laptops, power tools), lead-acid (vehicles), and button/coin cells contain hazardous materials and pose severe fire risks.

How to Find Regulated Battery Drop-Offs

Manufacturer Operation Manuals: Check operating instruction manuals that came with the appliance to see if recycling procedures and resources are listed.
Retail Take-Back: Return old batteries to retailers and appliance dealers that offer direct take-back programs for the products they sell.
Online Directories: Search for drop-off locations using websites like The Battery Network, or Earth911.com to find certified drop-off locations near you. These sites define the type of batteries accepted. Or search the Internet for listed commercial recycling contractors using key words like “battery recycling, or battery recycling contractors”. Contacting listed vendors using either method is highly recommended. There may be undefined associated costs. In some cases the listing may even be obsolete.
Local Agencies: Contact your municipal community agencies through phone or website for defined drop-off locations and local household hazardous waste guidelines.

High-Energy & High-Output Batteries

Electric vehicle (EV) batteries, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) packs, and similar sized high-output units are not accepted at consumer drop-offs. These are handled exclusively through specialized third-party contractors. The manufacturer or representing distributor will need to be contacted for assistance.

Damaged, Defective, or Recalled (DDR) Batteries

Never place damaged batteries in household trash, recycling bins, or standard retail drop-offs. Handling depends entirely on the current state of the battery:

1. Active Failure (Hot, Swollen, Hissing, Venting, or Smoking): These are signs of imminent thermal runaway and explosion. Do NOT handle or package the battery. Evacuate the area immediately. Call 911 or your local fire department. Do not call a waste handler or manufacturer for a battery in active failure.
2. Stable but Damaged (Dented, Recalled, or Previously Wet — but cold and quiet): Isolate: Place in a non-combustible container (such as a metal bucket) away from flammable materials. Seek Authorized Handling: Do not attempt to transport it yourself. Contact your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) agency or the fire department’s non-emergency line for safe extraction and transport instructions.