Battery fires caused an estimated 2.66 billion euros in damages across the European Union in 2025. The European Waste Management Association reported approximately 10,900 fires this year, a 27 percent increase from the 8,600 cases registered during 2023.
In Austria, lithium batteries in residual waste quadrupled over a decade, with over eight batteries now found per ton. Publicly known fires at Austrian plants rose from 10 in 2007 to 147 in 2025. A single damaged battery can trigger a major facility fire.
FEAD and VOEB President Gabriele Jüly advocate for a battery deposit system and a ban on single-use products like e-cigarettes. They also support a producer-funded safety fund, following a two billion euro industry investment in fire protection since 2023.