Waste group's plea to residents over dangers of batteries in bins
People in Sunderland are being urged not to create a fire hazard by throwing old batteries in the bin.
The South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership – Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Council and Gateshead Borough Council – is calling on people to make more use of recycling points for batteries and electrical items which contain them.
Ken Corbett, head of operations at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “If you put batteries in your general rubbish or recycling, they can be crushed, punctured or shredded during processing.
"Damaged batteries can leak toxic materials and become very hot and set 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.”
He added: “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 among your general householdwasteorrecycling.”
There have been 19 incidents in the area in the last year where fires during waste processing are believed to have been caused by damaged batteries.
As part of the awareness
campaign, the three councils are placing stickers on the bins of every household asking
residents to never put batteries in them and to dispose of them responsibly.
Cllr Linda Green, Chair of the Partnership, said: “Used batteries can be recycled in so many places these days. Most supermarkets, DIY shops or anywhere that sells batteries have them and many public buildings have battery recycling points.
"Both batteries and electrical items containing batteries can be recycled at any household waste and recycling centre. These includes mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, power tools and electronic vaping devices.”
"Larger retailers also have a duty to safely dispose of your old electrical items when you’re buying a new one from them. There’s really no excuse for throwing them in your bin.”
To find battery recycling points visit the council website and search for ‘Battery’, or www.recycleyourelectricals. org.uk.