The government is considering adding three items to the list of designated recyclable products that require businesses to voluntarily recall and recycle them. These items are small fans, cordless vacuum cleaners, and electric razors that use lithium batteries. This move comes after reports of fires during disposal, likely caused by the batteries catching fire. The government plans to investigate the distribution of these products.
Handheld fans have become more popular recently, but many are imported with unclear origins and are often thrown away with regular trash. The government will investigate this issue. For vacuum cleaners and electric razors, the government will not only investigate but also ask manufacturers to design their products so that the batteries can be easily removed. Whether these products will be officially designated for recycling will depend on manufacturers’ efforts.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of the Environment are working on updating the list of recyclable products under a revised law that will take effect next April. Currently, only computers and sealed batteries are designated, but mobile batteries, cell phones, and heated tobacco devices are expected to be added soon.
Under the law, manufacturers and importers must collect and recycle these products when users dispose of them. Fines can be imposed if they fail to do so. While there are no penalties for users, they are encouraged to dispose of products properly by bringing them to collection boxes at electronics stores or local government sites.
Lithium batteries are sensitive to heat and impact, which can lead to fires. According to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), there were 1,860 incidents involving products with lithium batteries from 2020 to 2024.
by MagazineKey4532