{"id":23757,"date":"2026-01-12T16:09:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.manutan.co.uk\/blog\/?p=23757"},"modified":"2026-01-14T10:50:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T10:50:25","slug":"why-smarter-battery-disposal-should-be-your-new-years-resolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manutan.co.uk\/blog\/health-safety\/why-smarter-battery-disposal-should-be-your-new-years-resolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Why smarter battery disposal should be your new year\u2019s resolution!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas. The season of giving\u2026 and of throwing stuff away. From old Christmas trees to leftover turkey, the bin men and women have their work cut out over the festive period. But prickly branches and mouldy food are the least of their worries as a danger lurks in the new year rubbish capable of turning an everyday shift into a life-or-death emergency.<\/p>\n

\"Bin<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be honest, when Santa brings you a mobile phone upgrade, or your string of Christmas lights start to lose their twinkle, it\u2019s tempting to drop the faulty fairies and demoted device straight into the nearest household bin along with all your other rubbish. Hey, what\u2019s the worst that can happen?<\/p>\n

Lithium-ion disposal\u2014the worst that can happen<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What you may not realise is that seemingly harmless electrical items like light-up Christmas decs have a darker side. LED lights, mobile phones, toys, tools, toothbrushes and most rechargeable devices contain lithium-ion battery cells. And while these rechargeable heroes power much of our modern-day living, they can be sensitive little troublemakers, thanks to their delicate internal components. A little undue pressure and the component that separates the cathode (positive) and anode (negative) is easily damaged causing the cell to short circuit. This can set off a rapid and intense temperature rise\u2014a chain reaction known as thermal runaway (TR)\u2014which can lead to fire or even an explosion.<\/p>\n

So being squashed, jostled or otherwise crushed in the back of a bin lorry is really not good for them. If they do survive their trip to the tip, lithium-ion cells pose an even greater risk when they make it to their final resting place. Compacted under landfill, electricals can spark fires that burn underground for days, sometimes even weeks. During thermal runaway, cells generate their own heat and toxic gases (off-gassing) which spreads to other cells, making these types of fires especially difficult to extinguish.<\/p>\n

Sounds dramatic? It is. The danger is real and growing, thanks to the increasing popularity and convenience of electronic rechargeables. In 2023 the Fire and Rescue People reported<\/a> over 1,200 fires in bin lorries and waste sites caused by batteries, up from 700 the previous year. But there is good news\u2014these fires are easily preventable. From mobile phone recycling to disposal of vapes and larger electricals, you can drop these items into your local household waste recycling centre when you\u2019re done with them, where they\u2019ll be segregated from other waste.<\/p>\n

\"Battery\"<\/p>\n

Nowadays most supermarkets and electronics retailers also collect spent batteries\u2014and you can too! Check out these battery collection bins<\/a> in the Manutan range and help to encourage safer electrical waste disposal in your workplace.<\/p>\n

A happy ending?<\/h2>\n

\"\"Lithium-ion disposal done correctly negates the risk of lorry and landfill fire. But that\u2019s only half the story. If you have lithium-ion storage in your workplace, you face similar fire hazards because it\u2019s not just physical crushing that compromises lithium-ion batteries. Damage can occur through overheating, excess humidity or overcharging. Additionally, prolonged storage at low charge (known as deep discharge) can lead to irreversible cell degradation and a reduction in overall performance.<\/p>\n

These volatile fellas need special care and attention throughout their lifecycle. Stash them on a shelf without proper ventilation, temperature control or fire precaution and you could be in for trouble.<\/p>\n

Lithium-ion storage\u2014what employers need to know<\/h2>\n

Under existing health and safety regulations, as an employer you have a legal duty to manage the fire and safety risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, which includes conducting a thorough risk assessment and implementing appropriate safety measures. It’s essential that whoever conducts the assessment understands all the risks associated with battery storage including thermal runaway, off-gassing, risk of fire spread and explosion, and the conditions specifically needed for lithium-ion storage. They will need to consider:<\/p>\n