How to charge and dispose of your electronics safely
The National Fire Chiefs Council is warning residents of the dangers of charging and disposing of lithium-ion batteries following several fires across the UK and West Yorkshire.
Lithium-ion batteries are those found in common gadgets around the home such as laptops and mobile phones. They can also be hidden in things like electric toothbrushes and other small electricals. Batteries are generally safe however, physical damage, poor maintenance, overcharging, rapid charging, or incorrect disposal can lead to a potentially dangerous situation.
Last year there were over 700 fires in the waste and recycling system across the UK. Many of these are believed to be caused by vapes and e-cigarettes. House fires caused by the charging of e-bikes and e-scooters are also on the rise.
Disposable batteries like those found in toys also pose a fire risk if not disposed of correctly and must not be thrown into household bins. These can be taken to your local supermarket for recycling.
How to charge your batteries safely and reduce the risk of a battery fire
- Always buy electricals and chargers from a reputable seller
- Charge batteries when you are awake and in the house so you can respond quickly in case of an emergency
- Charge batteries in a well-ventilated environment, away from flammable materials
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place
- Buy rechargeable where possible and once no longer needed take the steps to recycle batteries properly
Dangers of disposing
Batteries require specialist recycling. So when people dispose of, or ‘wishcycle’, batteries or items such as vapes with small or concealed batteries, this can lead to fires in bins, collection vehicles, and processing facilities. Even small batteries could cause huge fires when crushed during collection or processing if they are not correctly recycled.
Never dispose of batteries with general household waste or recycling, use dedicated battery recycling facilities. Recycling points can be found at most major supermarkets as well as our Household Waste and Recycling Centres
FACT: Around 1.3 million ‘disposable’ vapes are thrown away each week despite being fully recyclable, but as with other electricals they can’t simply be put in the green bin.
You can find out your nearest battery recycling point on the Recycle Your Electricals website here: https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/