Batteries
Never put any kind of battery in household waste or recycling bins as they are a significant fire risk.
Any kind of battery can cause a fire if not disposed of correctly and safely. This includes batteries in items such as vapes or other e-cigarettes, phones and laptops, as well as standard household batteries.
Fires involving batteries can quickly spread out of control. They can cause damage to refuse vehicles and roads, as well as significant delays to bin collections and road closures.
So it's important to recycle them properly.
You can take most portable batteries back to shops in the UK. Any retailer that sells more than 32kg of batteries a year (roughly one four-pack of AA batteries per day) is legally required to have a free battery recycling collection point, usually located near the entrance. This includes supermarkets, DIY stores, and electronic retailers.
Where to recycle your batteries
| Battery type | Where to recycle |
|---|---|
Standard household batteries
|
|
| Vapes |
|
Hidden batteries, such as those in:
| |
| Car batteries | |
| Damaged or swollen batteries |
Check Recycle Now's Recycling Locator to find all recycling locations.
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