Covington, Ky. – The Covington Fire Department has joined a regional initiative to provide safe disposal options for lithium batteries, partnering with the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. The program is funded by Rumpke Waste & Recycling and aims to reduce the risk of fires caused by improper battery disposal.
“Lithium batteries are becoming more prevalent,” said Jeff Snyder, senior vice president of recycling at Rumpke. “And when these batteries reach the end of their life, people don’t know what to do with them, so they toss them into their trash or recycling container, which leads to fires in our trucks and our facilities.”
Two Covington fire stations—Company 1 at 100 East Robbins and Company 5 at 1255 Hands Pike—have joined other participating fire stations in Ohio and Kentucky as collection points for used lithium batteries. Brittany Gray and David Deopke from Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub provided training for firefighters and supplied necessary materials for the program.
“The Covington Fire Department is proud to partner with the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub to help our community safely dispose of lithium batteries,” said Patrick Averbeck, Deputy Chief. “As the use of lithium batteries continues to grow, it’s important to remember that these batteries have a limited lifespan and should never be thrown out with regular household trash due to the risk of fire and environmental harm. Through this partnership, we’re providing residents with a safe and responsible way to discard old or damaged lithium batteries.”
The two Covington locations will accept only lithium batteries Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking information and access instructions are available for both sites.
Residents seeking more information about battery disposal can consult resources such as the Northern KY Solid Waste Management Area Resource Guide or follow city social media channels for updates on recycling education.
The Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub operates in Lower Price Hill at 911 Evans Street (45204), accepting items not suitable for curbside bins. Since opening in April 2021, it has diverted over 1.5 million pounds of material—including electronics and other hard-to-recycle goods—from landfills through its collection efforts (https://www.cintirrh.org). Lithium battery drop-off is also available at this location during public hours: Tuesdays from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Thursdays from 12 p.m.–6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
