A CAMPAIGN has been launched in Essex to highlight the importance of recycling batteries.
Essex County Council and Essex Fire and Rescue Service are emphasising the serious dangers posed by incorrectly disposing of batteries, which can ignite fires if thrown away with general rubbish.
The campaign is backed by the national Recycle Your Electricals campaign.
Crushed or punctured batteries can spark chemical reactions, leading to smoking, ignition, or explosions - even from ‘dead’ batteries.
It is estimated more than 1,200 battery-related fires occurred at UK waste sites and in collection vehicles in 2024 alone.
The public is being urged to remove batteries from electrical items and dispose of them at designated recycling points.
These are commonly found at supermarkets, most libraries, and all Essex recycling centres.
If a battery cannot be removed - such as in some electric toothbrushes or shavers - the whole item should be recycled.
Read more
A video explaining the dangers and safe disposal methods is part of the campaign, along with signage on the Essex County Council waste vehicle and containers.
A social media campaign featuring real footage of battery fires in Essex is also running, raising awareness across the county.
Batteries contain valuable materials such as lead, mercury and zinc, which can be recovered and reused in new products.
