A campaign has been launched to encourage people to recycle the 3.2 million batteries discarded in Cumbria each year.
Renewi, which operates the Hespin Wood site near Carlisle, said many people didn’t realise the harm putting batteries straight into the rubbish could do.
Nick Blake, contract director at Renewi, said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of fires as a direct result of batteries being placed in household bins.
“Disposable vapes are the latest problem, as they contain lithium batteries, which causes explosive reactions during our treatment process putting our employees and facilities at risk.”
TThe firm has partnered with Valpak and is backed by Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, Cumberland Council, Westmorland & Furness Council and has been designed with the help of Plus3K. The campaign will be offering all schools in the county battery boxes so pupils can bring in used batteries for recycling.
The campaign’s mascot is Superewe – and the recycling units are called baa-ttery boxes.
Hayley Slack, community education liaison officer for Renewi, said: “Over three million is a huge number of batteries but unless you can visualise the scale of the problem it means nothing – so 3.2 million batteries equal the weight of over 3,650 Herdwick sheep. What is more Cumbrian than a sheep to represent the scale of our problem?”
When the boxes are full, they will be collected for free and a replacement provided.
Hayley added: “Most people don’t think anything of putting a few batteries in the bin, not realising the dangers or even that they should be recycled.
“The campaign has been designed to be appealing to children, featuring a sheep as its mascot. The baa-ttery boxes are available to all businesses and organisations across Cumbria.”
James Armitage, head of procurement at Valpak, added: “When batteries are collected, they are first sorted into different types such as alkaline, lithium, mercury and zinc among others.
“The separate types are recycled to extract the different materials and precious metals, which are then used to make new products, including new batteries.
“The collection and recycling of batteries is important, as some of the materials within batteries are hazardous and can become a fire risk when not disposed of correctly.
“Valpak has supported the responsible management of waste batteries for a number of years through our free battery collection service, so it makes sense for us to partner with Renewi in Cumbria for this campaign.”
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service watch manager, Tom Harding said: “Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is passionately committed to ensuring that Cumbria is a safer place for all.
“To that end, we are delighted to endorse and assist with the Renewi UK Services Limited battery campaign and spread the important message of Superewe in ensuring the safe disposal of household batteries.
“The use of batteries in a wide range of household products is becoming increasingly common, especially with the emerging technologies market and the development of lithium ion batteries.
“The incorrect disposal of any batteries in general household and recycling waste can lead to significant waste fires. Prevention is therefore central in our support of this campaign.”
Renewi operates two mechanical biological treatment facilities in Cumbria in partnership with Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils, serving around 225,000 households and receiving over 110,000 tonnes of residual household waste a year.
It processes and diverts household waste away from landfill and creates material suitable for energy recovery in UK cement kilns for recycling.
To order a baa-ttery box, visit recycle-more.co.uk
