Register for the EPA Lithium-ion Battery Disposal and Recycling Stakeholder Virtual Workshop Series: Brainstorming Solutions

October 5, 2021: 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern

October 19, 2021: 1:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Eastern

Now Held Virtually (No longer in Person)

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US EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery invites you to register for the EPA Lithium-ion Battery Disposal and Recycling Stakeholder Workshop: Brainstorming Solutions to be held virtually in two sessions on October 5 and October 19, 2021. This workshop will bring together a wide variety of stakeholders to share their viewpoints on and seek out potential solutions to the problem of waste stream fires caused by end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.

Overview. The October 5 session of the workshop will include brief introductory remarks outlining EPA's concerns about lithium-ion battery fires and two rounds of multi-stakeholder breakout groups discussing specific potential approaches to reducing fires and keeping workers and communities safe when managing this waste stream. The October 19 session will feature one breakout session during which participants will discuss how to promote recycling of either small (consumer electronic) lithium-ion batteries or large (electric vehicle or stationary source) lithium-ion batteries. Below, you will be asked to rank your top three choices for breakout topics for the October 5th session and select your choice of two breakout topics for the October 19th session. You will be assigned to groups for each session according to your registration preferences. This will allow us to ensure there is sufficient space available for each discussion. Please see the brief agenda below for more information.

Logistics. Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID, the workshop will be held via Zoom. We will have a dedicated webinar support person available for any technical questions or issues. You will receive your personal Zoom link once your registration is confirmed.

Registration Process. Please note that registration is first come, first served and by invitation. We are limiting the attendees in order to have an effective discussion and ensure that representation from stakeholder groups is balanced.

Once you register via the website, you will receive an email confirming your request. Then you will receive another email confirming your registration with a Zoom link and calendar invite. DO NOT forward this email or link. All registrants must be confirmed by EPA. If you know of someone with an interest in this topic, please send their name and email to one of the EPA contacts listed below and we will extend an invitation if space permits.

We hope to see you at the workshop.

Related Information

EPA has recently published a report documenting lithium-ion battery fires at end of life, which can be found on our website.


For more information or questions, please contact Kathy Lett at lett.kathy@epa.gov or (703) 605-0761 or Mary Beth Sheridan at sheridan.marybeth@epa.gov or (703) 308-4941.


Registration will close on September 20. If registration fills before September 20th, we will add you to our waiting list to attend the workshop.



Registration

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Breakout Discussion Topic Options

Choose your top three breakout discussion topic preferences for the FIRST session (October 5):

Choose your breakout discussion topic preference for the SECOND session (October 19):


Reasonable Accommodations


EPA Lithium-Ion Battery Disposal and Recycling Stakeholder Workshop: Brainstorming Solutions

Draft Agenda

Agenda

October 5, 2021 (3 hrs) –VIRTUAL DISCUSSION:

How to address small/consumer lithium-ion batteries improperly disposed, increasing risk of fire–options, pros/cons, challenges, EPA actions, and partnering opportunities?

Discussion Round 1:

Process: Participants will go to the assigned breakout group/topic from their top 3 choices identified in registration:

  1. Public Education, Awareness, and Commitment–What is needed and how it could be funded?
  2. Collection and Logistics–How to increase collection outside municipal waste stream and how it could be funded?
  3. Labeling–What could be included to improve proper disposal?
  4. Design–How to address potential for end-of-life fire at design stage (both for batteries and devices)? – What is possible?

Discussion Round 2:

Breakout Groups–Process: Participants will go to the assigned breakout group/topic from their top 3 choices identified in registration: topics, same as Round 1

October 19, 2021 (2.5 hrs) –VIRTUAL DISCUSSION ROUND 3:

How to encourage more recycling and reuse of lithium-ion batteries by type: consumer/small or large format? And how can EPA help?

Process: Participants will go to the breakout group/topic selected at registration to discuss encouraging recycling and reuse of either small/consumer batteries or large format lithium-ion batteries