Batteries don’t go in any of your bins at home. Old batteries may seem ‘dead’ but they can still cause fires if you don’t dispose of them properly. They can be crushed in bin lorries or waste sorting plants and start fires.
It’s not just traditional batteries which can cause fires. Many items contain hidden batteries such as laptops, phones, shavers and electric toothbrushes. There are also a huge amount of vapes and electric cigarettes which are being thrown in bins at home and causing fires.
Between April and June 2023, there were 37 fires during bin collections and at recycling centres.
We’re working with our partners Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to remind you not to put any batteries in your bins at home. Find out how to safely dispose of your batteries and electrical items below.
The seriousness of putting batteries in bins is highlighted in the video below.
Follow these simple steps to keep your home and our staff safe…
Don’t throw it in any of your bins at home! Items such as laptops, mobile phones, electric toys, Bluetooth devices, shavers, electric toothbrushes, powerbank chargers, and vapes have batteries that might not be easy to remove.
Store your items properly until you can take them to a recycling point. Keep your electrical items and batteries in a safe place at home, then take them to your nearest recycling centre to ensure they’re recycled safely and responsibly.
Take your items to the nearest recycling centre to dispose of them properly. Alternatively, visit Recycle Your Electricals to find your nearest electrical recycling point – often found in supermarkets and shops.
There are hidden batteries in many electrical items such as electric toothbrushes, toys, e-cigarettes, vapes, phones, laptops, and many more. You can recycle them by following the same steps above.
If you are unsure how to recycle an item, have a look at our A-Z item guide to help you recycle as much as you can and to dispose of your waste safely.
When next replacing batteries, why not buy rechargeable batteries instead? It will save you money and help you waste less. If you’d like to find a new home for your electrical items, you could bring them to your local recycling centre (except for Chester Road and Reliance Street) and put them in the donation container, which will then be brought to our Renew Hub.
Longley Lane household waste recycling centre will be hosting a Renew pop up shop on Sunday 19th November 2023
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This Recycle Week, Recycle Now and Recycle For Greater Manchester (R4GM) are challenging Greater Manchester residents to take part in The Big Recycling Hunt.
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