Stop the Spark
Batteries, vapes and small electrical items can start fires if they get crushed, damaged or pierced in bins, collection vehicles, Recycling Centres or waste sites.
Before you throw something away, take a moment to check it. If it has a plug, cable or battery, do not put it in your household waste bin, recycling bin or the household waste container at a Recycling Centre.
Instead, see if you can repair it, reuse it, donate it or recycle it safely using the right collection service or drop-off point.
Many of these items contain valuable materials such as lithium, copper and aluminium. When people handle them correctly, they can recover these materials and use them again.
What to check for
Many everyday items contain batteries or electrical components. Some batteries are easy to remove, while others are built in or hidden inside.
Common items include:
- loose batteries and rechargeable batteries
- power banks and portable battery packs
- mobile phones and tablets
- chargers and charging cables
- wireless headphones and earbuds
- Bluetooth speakers
- vapes
- electric toothbrushes, shavers and razors
- smart watches and fitness trackers
- battery-operated toys, remotes and small gadgets
- light-up decorations
- kettles, toasters, hairdryers and other small household electricals
If you can safely remove the battery, recycle the battery separately.
If you cannot safely remove the battery, recycle the whole item as a small electrical item.
Why these items are a fire risk
Batteries and electrical items can become dangerous if they are damaged, crushed or pierced.
This can happen when they are placed in household bins, recycling bins, or household waste containers at Recycling Centres. They may then be crushed in collection vehicles or during processing at waste and recycling sites.
This can cause them to overheat, spark and start fires.
These fires put people at risk, including:
- members of the public
- collection crews
- Recycling Centre staff
- waste facility workers
- firefighters
They can also damage vehicles and equipment, interrupt services and cause sites to close.
What you can do with batteries, vapes and small electricals
Reuse or repair them
You do not always need to throw electrical items away. If your item still works, think about whether you can reuse it, repair it or give it to someone else before recycling it.
There are more than 20 repair cafés across West Sussex. Volunteers at these cafés help people fix household items so they can keep using them for longer. You can find your nearest repair café on the Community Climate Action Map.
You may also be able to donate working electrical items to charities, reuse groups or community projects. The Recycle Your Electricals locator can help you find places where you can repair, reuse, donate or recycle old electrical items.
Before you donate an electrical item, check that the charity or reuse group can accept it.
District and borough council collections
Some district and borough councils collect small electrical items, batteries and vapes separately from your usual rubbish and recycling collections.
Do not put these items in your household rubbish or recycling bins.
If your local council offers a collection service, follow its instructions. For example, you may need to:
- put items in a separate bag next to your bins
- book a collection
Visit your district or borough council's website for the latest information about collections in your area.
Recycling Centres
You can take batteries, vapes and small electrical items to a West Sussex Recycling Centre.
Before you visit, you must book a slot through the Book to Recycle system. This applies to all West Sussex Recycling Centres except mobile centres.
When you arrive, put your items in the correct recycling container. If you are not sure where an item belongs, ask a member of staff for help.
Recycle Your Electricals locator
You can use the Recycle Your Electricals locator to find places near you where you can repair, reuse, donate or recycle electrical items.
The locator can help you find:
- repair services
- places to reuse items
- donation points
- recycling points
- retailer take-back services, where available
Search using your postcode and check the best option for your item before you travel.
Helping children become recycling champions
West Sussex Recycles is working with Wastebuster to help children and families learn how to repair, reuse and recycle everyday items, including batteries and small electrical items.
Schools can join Wastebuster's Recycle to Read programme. Children take part in fun activities that help them understand how the things they use every day affect the environment.
The programme shows children how recycling and reusing materials can help protect the planet for the future. Schools can also earn books by taking part.
Wastebuster's Hidden Treasure Hunt encourages children and families to look for unwanted electrical items in drawers and cupboards. They can then make sure these items are repaired, reused or recycled in the right way.
By taking part, children can:
- become recycling champions
- help their families make safer and more environmentally friendly choices at home
- earn points for their school
- enjoy fun learning activities
- help save valuable materials from being wasted
Check before you bin it
If it has a plug, cable or battery, don’t bin it.
Repair it, reuse it, donate it or recycle it safely through the correct local route.
By taking a few extra seconds to check, you can prevent fires, protect collection crews, waste staff and firefighters and keep West Sussex safer.