Disposing of batteries safely
Batteries can be a fire hazard if they are not disposed of properly. They should never be put in household rubbish or recycling bins.
During the processing of waste or recycling, a battery can be compacted and damaged, which can lead to ignition of the highly reactive lithium, leading to a fire starting.
Any kind of battery can cause a fire if not disposed of correctly and safely. This includes vapes or other e-cigarettes as well as standard batteries.
Fires involving batteries cause damage to refuse vehicles and roads, as well as significant delays to bin collections and road closures.
How to dispose of batteries
There are many places to safely dispose of batteries. As well as local recycling centres, many shops around the county have collection bins in-store.
To find your nearest battery collection bin, visit either https://www.recyclenow.com or https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to check where your closest location is.
Some local authority bin collections also have a battery collection service. Check with your council to see what services they provide: