Residents across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough are being reminded of the importance of correctly disposing of batteries.
Batteries should never be disposed of in your household bins and instead, they should be taken to your local household recycling centre or to local shops which sell batteries.
Waste placed in household bins is compacted in collection vehicles which can damage batteries causing them to ignite, posing a significant risk to collection staff, the vehicle and members of the public. Improper disposal of batteries can also lead to environmental damage caused by pollutants leaking out of the batteries.
Less than a year ago, a fire broke out inside an ABC Council bin lorry which was on a routine collection run near Dromore. Quick thinking staff managed to escape harm by emptying the contents from the bin lorry and they also stopped the fire from destroying the vehicle.
Lord Mayor of ABC Borough, Alderman Stephen Moutray said it was important people realised the dangers posed by the incorrect disposal of batteries.
He said: “Many of our residents have made great strides in recycling their household waste, but when it comes to batteries there may be some people who do not know just how important it is to dispose of them correctly.
“Our own staff have seen at first hand the dangers which batteries can cause. We want to keep our staff safe when they are collecting waste as well as protecting the safety of the wider public.”
The Lord Mayor added: “The message is very clear: never put batteries in a bin. Take them to a collection point at one of our household recycling centres or a local shop that sells batteries. These are simple steps which will keep everyone safe from this danger and help protect the local environment.”
To find your nearest household recycling centre and further information on what materials can be recycled, please visit – www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/recycling-centres/
