Recycle Week: Recycle right and help stop batteries becoming a fire risk

Published: 13 October 2022

Local people are being alerted to the dangers of throwing away old batteries in their household waste bins and recycling boxes following fires at waste and recycling plants across the UK caused by dumped batteries.

For Recycle Week 2022 - The nation’s annual celebration of recycling - Redbridge Council’s Neighbourhood Education and Engagement Team are warning local people of the dangers of throwing away batteries in household waste bins, or recycling boxes as they can be unintentionally crushed or punctured at recycling and waste facilities.

When crushed some types of battery can get very hot or ignite, resulting in fires that put lives at risk; cause millions of pounds of damage; and disrupt local waste services.

The East London Waste Authority has cited that batteries are thought to be responsible for around 250 fires at waste and recycling facilities each year.

And even if they don’t cause fires, if damaged, these batteries contain chemicals and materials that can harm the environment if they aren’t recycled responsibly.

For Recycle Week, Monday 17- Sunday 23 October, Redbridge Council’s Neighbourhood Team is sharing information and short videos on Recycling Right, including what can and can’t be recycled, and how to recycle old batteries to avoid them becoming a fire risk. They are also advising local people to:

Never put batteries in your household waste or recycling boxes.
Only recycle batteries using trusted battery recycling services.
Find out where your nearest battery recycling service is by heading to: https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-locator

Local locations include Seven Kings Library, Redbridge Central Library, Sainsbury’s Convenience Store Gants Hill, Cranbrook Road and others that can be found through the locator link.

The ‘Recycle Right’ videos and information will be featured on the council’s social media platforms during Recycle Week:

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride Cllr Jo Blackman, said: “Batteries are considered to be hazardous waste, requiring specialist handling, so it’s important local people are aware of the dangers if they are disposed of in household waste or recycling boxes. Recycling Right is just as important as recycling, and to support local people our Neighbourhoods Team are on hand for Recycle Week with top tips and advice as part of the council’s commitment to creating a cleaner and greener Redbridge.”

Last year Redbridge carried out 5.5 million kerbside recycling collections in the borough, and 14,000 tonnes of residents’ waste was recycled – that’s the equivalent of 1,120 double decker buses.

We all know recycling is important, but it’s also important to do it correctly. Wrong items in the recycling can contaminate the whole load, making it all unrecyclable.

Here are some handy tips to help you recycle right:

Recycling kitchen foil? Make sure all foil is clean and food free before popping it in your recycling box.
No to nappies! Disposable nappies are often found in recycling across the UK. Disposable nappies should always go in your wheelie bin. Why not check out our reusable nappy trial pack for a pocket and planet friendly alternative to disposables? https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/bins-waste-and-recycling/real-nappies/
Picked up a takeaway pizza? Make sure to bin any parts of the cardboard that are greasy. The dry, clean cardboard can be folded into your recycling box.
Too much recycling for your boxes? Don’t worry! Our crews will happily take any extra recycling you have, and if you don’t have enough recycling boxes to put it all in just place additional recycling in clear bags or cardboard boxes and leave it for collection as normal.

Primary School teacher Katherine Page-Bailey, from Hainault, is one of the borough’s avid recyclers. She said: “Recycling is the minimum we can all do to help the environment. It’s free to do and Redbridge has made it really easy so that it can be done by anyone. I think it’s so good the council are also supporting residents with information on ways to reduce waste and recycle correctly. It’s nice to feel like we haven’t just been left to it. Another positive step was Redbridge increasing the types of items it accepted for recycling. There really is no excuse not to recycle – especially as the help is there from the council if you’re unsure about what can and can’t be recycled!”

Head to Redbridge Council’s website for more information on recycling and how switching to all sorts of reusables and cutting waste can help save you money and help the environment: https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/our-streets/

Redbridge Council’s Neighbourhood Education and Engagement Team welcome opportunities to speak to community, faith or social groups about recycling and reducing waste. To request a session for your group with the team email ourneighbourhood@redbridge.gov.uk

(ENDS)

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