At the meeting, Austria –supported by Germany and Lithuania– highlighted the sharp rise in fire incidents in waste management and recycling facilities caused by improperly disposed lithium waste batteries: ‘During the summer of 2025, several major fires occurred in Austria and other Member States, each resulting in damages amounting to millions of euros – despite state-of-the-art fire prevention measures and infrastructure in waste management industries. These incidents highlight a significant and escalating safety risk for workers, severe environmental damage, and substantial economic losses for waste management operators.’
FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, strongly endorses Austria’s call for a swift EU-level solution. ‘We commend the support Austria received from fellow EU Member States, but the urgency of this issue requires decisive and coordinated action’, stated Paolo Campanella, Secretary General of FEAD. ‘FEAD has repeatedly warned about the surging number of fire incidents in our sector. This is not just an isolated risk but a systematic challenge threatening workers safety, critical infrastructure and Europe’s circular economy ambitions.’
These risks and proposed solutions are set out in FEAD’s joint position paper on lithium battery fires in waste management, developed together with partners across the waste value chain, extended producer responsibility organisations and public service unions. The paper calls for swift EU action to prevent batteries from entering the wrong waste streams, strengthen producer responsibility and collection systems, and ensure adequate financing for fire prevention measures to protect workers and critical waste management infrastructure.
In response to yesterday’s discussion, the European Commission announced that it will prioritise the assessment of a Deposit Return System (DRS) for batteries. Additionally, it is considering measures to enhance fire protection and insurability in the upcoming Circular Economy Act. In the interim, the Commission called on Member States to pursue national measures, including financial contributions for fire prevention and consumer awareness campaigns.
FEAD welcomes the Commission’s commitment but stresses that time is of the essence. ‘Every day, fire incidents continue to endanger lives, damage infrastructure, and undermine the financial viability of waste operators across Europe,’ Campanella added. ‘We urge the European Commission to take decisive regulatory steps and financing measures to address this challenge head-on.’
