Battery recycling and collection hub

Construction will begin in 2025 for a customer convenience battery recycling and collection hub to reduce the number of fires caused by improperly disposing  of lithium ion batteries.  An estimated $12 million dollars will be used to build the customer convenience center  at the Dubuque Metro Landfill.  The facility will process the used batteries, which will be “shipped to specialized facilities, for metal extraction and recycling into new batteries.

The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agencies–DMASWA– is getting up to $4 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Kenneth Miller– DMASWA Administrator, said, “ we typically see a battery related fire probably once a day. Lithium ion batteries present a hugh fire risk, so getting those out of the way stream and properly managed was a hugh focus..”  Overnight on September 2022, there was a fire and quickly spread to 50 by 150 foot area, due to the lack of fire hydrants, and destroyed $10,000 dollars worth of equipment

Batteries are accepted at the landfill or at one of the drop off spots:

Carnegie Stout Public Library, 360 West 11th Street, Dubuque

City of Dubuque Municipal Service Center, 925 Kerper Court Dubuque

Dyerville City Hall, 340 1st Avenue East, Dyersville

Dubuque County Library- Asbury Branch, 5290 Grand Meadow Drive, Asbury