Lithium batteries tossed into household trash have caused fires inside League City garbage trucks, prompting the city's Public Works Department to warn residents Thursday, Aug. 13, to stop putting batteries in their carts.

The warning, published in the department's weekly Public Works update, said the fires struck trucks operated by AmeriWaste League City, Inc., the city's contracted solid waste hauler. When a battery ignites inside a compactor, crews must act fast. If they can't contain the blaze, the truck may have to drive to a designated "hot dump" site away from homes and businesses to empty its burning load.

The city said recent incidents were contained before reaching that stage.

The warning applies to batteries found in cell phones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-cigarettes and hoverboards. None of those belong in curbside trash or recycling bins, according to both the city and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA documented more than 240 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries at 64 waste facilities nationwide between 2013 and 2020, according to a separate agency report.

AmeriWaste cannot collect or dispose of lithium batteries. Residents can find a nearby recycling drop-off through Earth911 at search.earth911.com or Call2Recycle at call2recycle.org. The city did not name a specific League City location. For trash service questions, residents can call the League City hotline at 281-554-1100 or AmeriWaste at 281-331-8400.

Water team replaces paper logs with iPads

Separately, the same weekly update announced that the city's Water Production team has replaced paper logs with iPads over the past few months. Operators now use the tablets in the field to monitor daily water production, track chemical usage, check pump and motor performance and complete work orders tied to water quality or pressure concerns. The department said the switch has reduced the potential for human error and improved response times when issues arise.