Never Bin Batteries and Electricals

We’ve seen a significant increase in fires at our Waste Treatment Facilities. And in the bin wagons that collect from your homes. This puts people’s lives at serious risk, causes delays to collections and costly damage.

Every month on average there are nine battery fires at our South Kirkby recycling site.

Watch what happens when batteries are put in household rubbish or recycling bins.

Please don’t put batteries or electrical items that contain batteries into any of your bins. This includes vapes, mobiles and laptops, power tools and children’s toys.

As rubbish is processed it gets crushed. If a lithium battery gets damaged, it can cause a fire, either in the bin wagon or at the Waste Treatment Facility. Fires put our staff at risk and damage equipment. They also put extra pressure on the fire service, as often they’re called out to attend.

Last year in Wakefield, 85 tonnes of electrical items were thrown in bins at home. If they’re disposed in the right way, they will be recycled. And their materials used to make something new.

Take your batteries and electrical items to:

your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centres. Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) - Wakefield Council Open all year except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/
a bring site with a waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling point https://biffawakefield.co.uk/find-local-bring-site/
your local library’s pink bin (electricals smaller than a microwave only)
a supermarket, most have a battery recycling point

Or find your nearest electrical recycling point. Visit https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/

Remember: if you can charge it up, it contains a battery. Make sure to recycle these items.

Every year we see an increase in electrical items being thrown away. Some of our libraries hold repair workshops in partnership with Biffa. Look out for when your library is holding a workshop. If your electricals are beyond repair, always recycle them

Tip: Keep separate bags or boxes at home for old batteries or electrical items. Then take them with you on your next trip to the recycling centre.

Find out more about electrical safety here: Buy Safe. Charge Safe. Dispose Safe. | West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

A battery fire on the recycling line at our waste treatment facility in South Kirkby.

Fire crews are called out to a bin wagon fire caused by a battery in Horbury.

Firefighters put out a fire in the North East of England. The bin wagon driver saw smoke coming from the back of the vehicle and had to stop and tip the load of recycling into the road.