Don’t bin your batteries, recycle them, warns safety campaign
A new campaign has been launched by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership about battery fires.
People are being warned about the dangers of putting batteries and electrical items containing batteries in your household rubbish and general recycling bins and instead are being urged to recycle them.
There have been over 300 incidents across the country in the last year where fires during waste processing are believed to have been caused by damaged batteries: 19 of them within the South Tyne and Wear area.
Ken Corbett, National Waste Fire Tactical Advisor and Head of Operations at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “If you put batteries in your general rubbish or recycling, during processing they can be crushed, punctured or shredded. Damaged batteries can leak toxic materials and can become very hot and spark, setting fire to any combustible materials around them. This is particularly hazardous in waste facilities or in collection vehicles, where they can cause large fires and present a real danger to life.
“Fires that involve batteries can prove very challenging and difficult to extinguish, and have a detrimental effect on the environment. I would remind people to dispose of batteries responsibly, and not
amongst your general household waste or recycling.”
Already under way, the
campaign will involve the three councils who make up the partnership placing stickers
on the bins of every household throughout Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead,askingresidentstonever
put batteries in their bins, and todisposeofthemresponsibly.
Councillor Linda Green, Chair of the Partnership, said: “Usedbatteriescanberecycled in so many places these days. Mostsupermarkets,DIYshops or anywhere that sells batteries, as well and many public buildings have battery recycling points.
“Likewise, both batteries and electrical items containing batteries can be recycled at any Household Waste and Recycling Centre. This includes mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, power tools and electronic vaping devices. Larger retailers also have a duty to safely dispose of your old electricalitemswhenyou’rebuying a new one from them. There’s really no excuse for throwing them in your bin at home.”