Council urges public to recycle batteries in bid to prevent fires

More than 1.6 billion batteries were thrown away in the UK in 2022, according to RECAP.

This included 1.1 billion hidden inside everyday household items such as phones, tablets, e-cigarettes, toothbrushes and power tools.

When these items end up in general waste or mixed recycling, batteries can ignite or explode during collection, transport or sorting.

Since 2022, there had been a 71% increase in waste-related fires, external, with 1,200 in the past year alone..