Hidden and loose batteries can cause fires if you throw them in your normal recycling or waste bin – so it’s really important to recycle them properly. Read on for how and where to recycle batteries and electricals near you.
Why it’s important to take charge of recycling your loose batteries or electricals with hidden batteries
Binned batteries and electricals containing batteries caused more than 1,200 fires over the last year, our research shows. And local authorities say the problem is getting worse.
These fires are having a significant impact on local communities, including spikes in air pollution. They are also challenging for fire services to deal with and are endangering lives of staff working on lorries and at waste plants.
1.6 billion batteries were thrown away last year. This means vast amounts of valuable materials such as nickel, zinc, cadmium and lithium are lost forever. See the FAQs below to learn how these materials are recovered.
Recovering raw materials from batteries makes them available to reuse or to turn into new products. For example, the lithium in batteries could power thousands of electric cars!
Does your electrical item contain batteries? If so, they may cause a fire if not recycled properly – so don’t bin them. If possible, remove the batteries from your electricals and recycle them separately. If you can’t remove them, recycle the whole item at your local electrical recycling point.
Set aside a bag or a box just for batteries. Then each time you remove a battery from a gadget, put it in the bag ready to take to a recycling point, or to be collected if your local council provides this service.
Use our recycling locator to find your nearest electrical recycling point – they’re often in supermarkets and shops. Or check with your council website to see if they collect batteries for recycling.
Recycling locator
DID YOU KNOW?
“My daughter suffered from breathing issues and a cough from the smoke caused by the fire. It got so bad we visited a walk-in centre and eventually A&E.”
— Bethan, describing a battery fire in her local area
Common household batteries include lithium-ion button batteries from watches, hearing aids, etc, as well as standard barrel-type batteries (AAs, AAAs and so on). You must recycle these household batteries at dedicated battery collection points.
You can recycle battery packs from laptops, mobile phones, power tools and remote control units at dedicated battery collection points. If you can’t remove the power pack put the whole product in with your electrical recycling – but never in the general waste bin.
By law you mustn’t dispose of car batteries in a rubbish bin. In the UK you can recycle car batteries at designated collection points. These includes many household waste recycling centres, garages and scrap yards. Or, if a specialist is replacing your car battery, they might be able to dispose of the old one safely for you.
You might not have to go anywhere if your local authority collects batteries along with your household recycling. Check your council website.
But don’t worry if your council doesn’t collect batteries. You’ll find many shops, supermarkets and kerbside collection points have spoecial bins for common household batteries. These batteries include the barrel, button and rechargeable packs used in things like torches, toys, remote controls and cameras.
What about recycling larger battery packs from things like power tools or laptops? You should be able to take these to your council household waste and recycling centre. Alternatively, thousands of electrical retailers and large stores now offer an in-store take-back service. This means you don’t even need to know how to recycle batteries – as they will do it for you.
Find your nearest recycling point using our locator, then check which types of batteries they accept.
The short answer is no. If your batteries have come to the end of their useful life, you should recycle them. Do not add them to your general rubbish as this creates a fire hazard in the waste stream.
But you’ll find recycling batteries is easy if you set aside a bag or bin for them. In the kitchen or by the front door is a good place. You probably already have a bin for general rubbish, a bin for kitchen and garden waste, and a bin for recycling things like paper, glass, plastics and tinfoil. Just make sure you don’t mix up batteries in any of these. Instead, pop household batteries in an old bag or tub until you’re ready to visit your nearest recycling point.
Some local authorities do collect batteries along with your other recycling, so it’s worth checking your council website first. You’re all ready to dispose of your batteries correctly.
Remember: recycling batteries, yes; binning batteries, no.
Yes but only at a designated battery recycling point (for loose batteries) or an electrical recycling point for electricals with batteries hidden inside. Don’t add them to your mixed recycling or general rubbish as this can create a fire hazard.
Recycling batteries is easy if you set aside a bag, bin or tub for them. Pop household batteries in there until you’re ready to visit your nearest recycling point.
Some local authorities collect batteries along with your other recycling, so it’s worth checking your council website first.
The exact process for battery recycling depends on the type of battery because of the different materials they contain. Generally:
