THE NATIONAL Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has given its support to the Take Charge campaign, which is urging consumers to only recycle used batteries using specialist recycling services.
In a press release, the NFCC said that consumers UK wide were being urged by the campaign to ‘join the fight against zombie batteries’ in an attempt to ‘tackle the growing number of fires caused by carelessly discarded dead batteries’ in waste and recycling centres. NFCC said it supported the campaign’s aims, which include urging consumers to recycle used batteries via specialist services, and ‘to never throw’ them away in general rubbish or other recycling bins.
Such batteries, referred to as ‘zombie’ batteries, are ‘likely to be crushed or punctured’ when waste is collected and processed, and some particular types – namely lithium-ion (Li-ion) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) – can ‘ignite or even explode’ when damaged, quickly setting fire to other waste materials such as paper and ‘leading to serious incidents that put lives at risk’.
Li-ion batteries are ‘safe to use’, but are ‘typically the most dangerous if they are not recycled properly’, and are found in laptops, tablets, mobile phones, radio controlled toys, Bluetooth devices, shavers, electric toothbrushes, power tools, scooters and e-cigarettes. Recycling and waste management trade body the Environmental Service Association (ESA) launched the campaign, and does annual member surveys to record how many fires at facilities are caused by Li-ion batteries.
Its most recent data showed that between April 2019 and March 2020 Li-ion batteries ‘alone’ were ‘thought to be responsible’ for over 250 fires at ESA members’ facilities, making up ‘well over a third’ of 38% of all fires. The ESA and its members hope that by encouraging the public to ‘recycle batteries responsibly’, this will reduce the number of ‘zombie batteries’ in general waste and recycling, in turn ‘thereby reducing the number of fires in future’.
ESA executive director Jacob Hayler stated: ‘Unfortunately, the majority of batteries thrown away in the UK at the moment are not recycled properly. Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives; cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt waste services. We urge consumers to please recycle batteries responsibly by using widely available local battery recycling services.’
Mark Andrews, NFCC waste fires lead and assistant chief fire officer of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, added: ‘Batteries in household waste and recycling can lead to large scale and protracted fires. These incidents are often very challenging for fire services to deal with and can cause significant disruption to communities. Many people may not realise the importance of the correct disposal of batteries so this simple advice can make a real difference in preventing waste fires.’