The Environmental Services Association has today (Oct 26) launched a campaign designed to encourage the proper recycling of dead batteries.
The campaign, titled Take Charge is urging people to refrain from throwing batteries away with their general waste and instead to use proper battery recycling facilities.
In a report that the ESA conducts every year, they found that 38% of all fires at waste management sites were caused by batteries that were pierced or crushed. This accounts for approximately 250 fires per year, although the number could be higher because it is often difficult to tell what exactly has caused a fire.
The campaign has seen substantial report from organisations across the Public Sector including councils and recycling organisations.
Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Jacob Hayler said:
“Unfortunately, the majority of batteries thrown away in the UK at the moment are not recycled properly. Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives; cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt waste services.
“We urge consumers to please recycle batteries responsibly by using battery recycling points in shops and recycling centres, or a separate battery kerbside collection if available.”
Fire services warn that fires caused by batteries are particularly problematic to deal with and can cause considerable disruption to community services.
