People should avoid throwing away old batteries in household waste bins, industry experts have warned, with new figures revealing an increase in fires at waste and recycling plants across the UK. Dead batteries run the risk of causing fires at recycling centres, after getting punctured and leaking hazardous waste during processing. So how can you dispose of old batteries safely? Here’s everything you need to know. Industry fears after surge in fires New figures released by the Environmental Services Association (ESA) on 26 October revealed that lithium-ion batteries were the suspected cause of 38 per cent of fires at waste treatment plants between April 2019 and March 2020. This equates to lithium-ion batteries potentially causing around 250 fires a year. Earlier this year, recycling and waste disposal service company Veolia, which provides services to more than 25 local authorities across the UK, said fires in waste centres had risen by 37.5 per cent since 2017. How do I dispose of my batteries safely? ESA executive director, Jacob Hayler, said, “Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives, cause millions of pounds of damage, and disrupt waste services. “We urge consumers to please recycle batteries responsibly by using battery recycling points in shops and recycling centres, or a separate battery kerbside collection if available.” The Take Charge website has more information about where to recycle batteries responsibly in your local area. Used batteries can be sent for recycling by placing them into collection containers found at many results outlets and public buildings across the country. Battery recycling laws came into force in February 2010, and now most shops and supermarkets that sell batteries have to have collection bins in-store for used batteries. You can also find them in some town halls, libraries and schools. These boxes will then be taken by compliance schemes, such as Valpak, which takes the batteries away to be recycled. Sorting your batteries can help the recycling process. This is because batteries are made from different chemistries. Different types of batteries include lithium-ion - which are commonly used for laptops - zinc (which is used in AA batteries), and nickel cadmium batteries, which are used for power tools. You can also recycle batteries at many Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). Type your postcode into the recycle-more recycling locator to find where you can recy