Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has stopped its kerbside collection service for batteries due to fire risk.
The service ended on Monday this week, with the council confirming in a statement yesterday that the move comes as an attempt to protect both its staff and residents.
Warning of the surge in the number of battery-related fires, the local authority said that proceeding with collections would increase the risk of these incidents due to batteries being disposed of incorrectly.
The council highlighted that battery-related fires pose harm to waste crews and communities, as well as causing ‘significant damage to waste collection vehicles and facilities’.
With 11 fires that were linked to incorrect battery disposal having taken place since January 25, the council has revealed that temporary closures of recycling transfer centres have been necessary, causing disruptions to services as a result.
Calling for the responsible disposal of batteries and electrical items, the council has issued a reminder to residents to take their items to council recycling centres, or visit shops and supermarkets to use the ‘legally required battery and vape drop-off points’.
Cllr Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said: ‘To keep people safe, we have taken the decision to end kerbside battery collections. Instead, residents can use the free battery drop-off points available in many shops – these are provided by retailers by law – or take batteries to any of our designated recycling centres.
‘We do ask residents not to put batteries and items containing batteries such as vapes into either their recycling or residual waste bins, but to dispose of them carefully at a drop-off point.’
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Photo: © John Cameron.
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