Fresh warning over disposal of batteries
We'd like to remind residents of the importance of disposing of batteries correctly following a huge blaze at a waste transfer centre in Scotland, run by the same company who operate our facilities.
Fire ripped through a SUEZ UK waste transfer centre in Aberdeen, with dramatic CCTV footage (opens new window) capturing the moment the fire started, and how quickly it grew into a raging inferno, causing significant damage to the facility.
It's suspected the fire was caused by a battery that was damaged when waste was being moved or crushed, and sparked, igniting the tonnes of flammable waste material surrounding it.
Lithium batteries are a particular problem, such as those found in mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, power tools and electronic vaping devices, but standard household batteries can also be dangerous.
Councillor Linda Green, Chair of the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership is keen to remind residents that failing to recycle your batteries correctly can present a real risk to life:
"I encourage you to view the video and see for yourself how quickly the fire spread. Thankfully nobody was hurt in the incident, but the potential consequences don't bear thinking about. Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt waste services.
"Your used batteries can be recycled in so many places these days. Most supermarkets, DIY shops or anywhere that sells batteries, also many public buildings have battery recycling points. Likewise, both batteries and electrical items containing batteries can be recycled at any Household Waste and Recycling Centre. There's really no excuse for throwing them in your bin at home."
We'd like to remind residents of the importance of disposing of batteries correctly following a huge blaze at a waste transfer centre in Scotland, run by the same company who operate our facilities.
Fire ripped through a SUEZ UK waste transfer centre in Aberdeen, with dramatic CCTV footage (opens new window) capturing the moment the fire started, and how quickly it grew into a raging inferno, causing significant damage to the facility.
It's suspected the fire was caused by a battery that was damaged when waste was being moved or crushed, and sparked, igniting the tonnes of flammable waste material surrounding it.
Lithium batteries are a particular problem, such as those found in mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, power tools and electronic vaping devices, but standard household batteries can also be dangerous.
Councillor Linda Green, Chair of the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership is keen to remind residents that failing to recycle your batteries correctly can present a real risk to life:
"I encourage you to view the video and see for yourself how quickly the fire spread. Thankfully nobody was hurt in the incident, but the potential consequences don't bear thinking about. Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt waste services.
"Your used batteries can be recycled in so many places these days. Most supermarkets, DIY shops or anywhere that sells batteries, also many public buildings have battery recycling points. Likewise, both batteries and electrical items containing batteries can be recycled at any Household Waste and Recycling Centre. There's really no excuse for throwing them in your bin at home."
