Summary
Kashiwa City has published an official notice warning residents that fires caused by improperly sorted lithium-ion batteries have been occurring both within and outside the city, and is urging the public to follow the correct sorting rules.
Key Points from the Official Notice
- According to Kashiwa City’s official notice, a fire broke out at a plastic packaging processing facility on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at around 8:40 a.m. Flames reached approximately 2.5 meters in height but were extinguished without injuries. Contamination by a lithium-ion battery is considered the likely cause.
- According to the official notice, lithium-ion batteries — including those in mobile power banks and wireless earphones — must not be mixed in with plastic packaging waste.
- According to the official notice, residents in the former Kashiwa area must dispose of these batteries as “hazardous waste” (有害ごみ), while residents in the former Shonan area must dispose of them as “dangerous/hazardous items” (危険・有害物).
- According to the official notice, for products where the battery cannot be removed — such as smartphones and game consoles — residents should attach a label reading “battery cannot be removed” and put the item out on the hazardous waste collection day applicable to their area.
- According to the official notice, lead-acid batteries (marked “PB”) cannot be collected by the city; residents should contact the manufacturer or retailer for disposal.
What Users Should Check
- Which area you live in — former Kashiwa or former Shonan — determines which category to use for disposal, so confirm your area first
- Cordless rechargeable products that run without being plugged in (e.g., cordless vacuums, power tools, heated tobacco devices) may contain lithium-ion batteries; check before disposing of them
- When putting out a product with a non-removable battery, you must attach a label clearly stating “battery cannot be removed”
For the most current and accurate information, always check the official page.
Source
- Kashiwa City Official — Caution When Sorting Lithium-Ion Batteries (Rechargeable Batteries) (last checked: 2026-05-31)