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

A ten-foot elephant sculpture made from recycled batteries is coming to Redbridge for Recycle Week 2023, to promote the safe recycling of batteries to avoid fire risks.

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.  

Batteries disposed of in household bins, or recycling boxes, can be unintentionally crushed or punctured at recycling and waste facilities.

When crushed some types of battery, including those in vapes, 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.

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.

• You can 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.

• Chigwell Road Reuse and Recycling Centre also has a dedicated Vape disposal bin. You can also ask your nearest vape shop about vape disposal.

To raise awareness of the safe disposal of batteries and vapes, Jumbo the Elephant – a 10-foot sculpture made from recycled batteries – is coming to Redbridge.

The colossal attention-grabbing structure will be at The Exchange Ilford on Friday 20 October for a community event run by the Council’s Neighbourhood Team, and The East London Waste Authority, for Recycle Week (16-22 October).

Visitors will have the opportunity to chat with the team on how and where to dispose of their batteries and small electrical appliances safely across East London, as well as drop off their used batteries next to Jumbo himself.

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Jo Blackman, said: “We are reminding local people not to dispose of batteries or vapes in household waste or recycling boxes, but please instead bring them to a battery recycling bin. Batteries, including those found in vapes, can cause fires when disposed of incorrectly. Batteries are considered to be hazardous waste, requiring specialist handling, so it’s important to be aware of the dangers if they are not disposed of properly.”

As part of Recycle Week, local people are being encouraged to do their bit for a greener Redbridge by recycling right. 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.

Shaheen from Barkingside is a keen recycler along with her family. Speaking about the importance of recycling the mum-of-two said: “Recycling is really important for the environment and tackling climate change. It’s a way for us to help balance the ecosystem because recycling paper, for example, saves cutting down trees, and more trees in our environment means cleaner and better air quality around us. As a family we always recycle, and I think it’s important we set an example for our kids to see as they grow up.” 

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.

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)