Hills Waste Solutions is concerned that the ongoing, incorrect disposal of batteries will eventually cause serious injury to its crews or members of the public.
Following two recent fires caused by lithium-ion batteries at one of Hills' waste management sites and another in one of its vehicles, Divisional Managing Director, Neil Pollard said, “I am worried that these fires will cause serious injury and property damage. Hills has been lucky so far with its teams and crews from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attending to very difficult incidents quickly and safely.
“But, with batteries responsible for five fires at our facilities and a further four in our vehicles over the last year alone, I would encourage members of the public and businesses to think more carefully about the correct way to dispose of their batteries.”
Wiltshire residents should:
- Dispose of batteries in designated collection containers at household recycling centres
- Use the kerbside battery collection service: place batteries in a sealed clear bag on top of your blue-lidded bin or beside your recycling sack.
- Put small electricals (smaller than a shoebox) beside your bin in a carrier bag
- If a battery can’t be removed from an item, recycle the whole item at an HRC in the designated electricals bin.
Everyone should remember that if any device lights up, moves, buzzes, or puffs and isn’t plugged in, it’s powered by a battery - and should never be binned. Small everyday items like vapes, headphones and kids’ toys often have ‘hidden batteries’ inside and present a real danger to waste crews.
Businesses can contact Hills Waste Solutions directly for more advice on disposal of batteries and other hazardous materials.
Further information from Material Focus:
- Battery fires in bin lorries and at waste sites in the UK have reached an all time high – over 1,200 in the last year, an increase of 71% from 700 in 2022
- 1.6bn batteries were thrown away in the last year, over 3,000 a minute – including over 1.1bn electricals containing hidden lithium-ion batteries
- National Fire Chiefs Council says, “fires involving lithium-ion batteries are a disaster waiting to happen”
- Battery fires cause air pollution levels to spike in local areas, breaking WHO limits, affecting the health of local communities
- The cost impact of battery waste fires is also significant – Zurich UK has seen insurance claims up to £20 million.
