The Legend of Mark's Trash
How a junk drawer became a local catastrophe.
The Shredder Incident
Mark thought his old vapes were harmless. But when the industrial shredder at the recycling plant bit into them, they didn't just break—they violently ignited. The conveyor belt became a river of fire, and the facility had to execute an emergency shutdown.
What Mark Didn't Know
Lithium-ion batteries contain a massive amount of energy in a tiny space. When damaged, they enter Thermal Runaway. It's a chain reaction: one cell gets hot, which makes the next cell hot, until you have a jet-like flame that is nearly impossible to extinguish with just water.
The Toxic Cloud
Because Mark didn't use a proper drop-off point, his neighborhood was treated to a plume of toxic smoke. The fire department spent hours managing the "Hot Load" dumped by the truck driver. All because Mark was too lazy to find a battery bin.
The Legend of Mark's Trash
How a junk drawer became a local catastrophe.
The Shredder Incident
Mark thought his old vapes were harmless. But when the industrial shredder at the recycling plant bit into them, they didn't just break—they violently ignited. The conveyor belt became a river of fire, and the facility had to execute an emergency shutdown.
What Mark Didn't Know
Lithium-ion batteries contain a massive amount of energy in a tiny space. When damaged, they enter Thermal Runaway. It's a chain reaction: one cell gets hot, which makes the next cell hot, until you have a jet-like flame that is nearly impossible to extinguish with just water.
The Toxic Cloud
Because Mark didn't use a proper drop-off point, his neighborhood was treated to a plume of toxic smoke. The fire department spent hours managing the "Hot Load" dumped by the truck driver. All because Mark was too lazy to find a battery bin.