Battery-related fires prompt safety advice in Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire residents asked to recycle electronic items
Residents across West Northamptonshire are being encouraged to recycle electronic and electrical items with batteries to prevent them from being disposed of in regular household waste bins.
This call comes in the wake of a notable increase in battery-related fires connected to waste collections. Over the past three financial years, battery-induced fires have escalated from just one incident in 2023/2024 to 35 incidents in 2025/2026.
This trend highlights a pressing national concern regarding the improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries in household waste and recycling bins. When these batteries are crushed or damaged during collection and processing, they pose a significant fire risk.
Additionally, there has been a marked rise in vapes, which predominantly feature lithium-ion batteries, being thrown into household waste.
To mitigate this risk, residents can recycle small electrical items, including vapes, by placing them in a bag on top of the appropriate bin or recycling sack on their collection day. In Northampton, residents should use the blue recycling bin; in Daventry, the black waste bin is recommended; and in the South area, either the blue or black bin can be utilised.
Many everyday household products contain batteries, such as electric toothbrushes, wireless earbuds, mobile phones, toys, mini fans, solar lights, electric shavers, and cordless power tools. When these items are discarded in household waste or recycling bins, the batteries may be damaged or crushed, leading to potential fire hazards in waste collection vehicles and causing disruption to collection services.
Cllr Nigel Stansfield, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste, expressed concern over the increase in battery-related fires. He stated, "In just three years, incidents have increased from one fire to 35, putting our collection crews, vehicles, and facilities at risk."
Stansfield appealed to residents to contribute to reversing this trend by recycling batteries, vapes, and small electrical items. He emphasised that the kerbside collection service simplifies the process of doing the right thing, enabling safe practices and supporting the recovery of valuable materials for reuse.
Residents are urged to remove and separately recycle batteries wherever possible. If safe removal is not feasible, the entire item should be recycled through the collection service.