Batteries

Many everyday items use small batteries, including mobile phones, laptops, cameras and children’s toys. These batteries contain materials like nickel and cadmium, which are dangerous if they end up in your household bins.

When batteries are thrown away with general waste or recycling, they can get crushed inside bin lorries. This can cause them to spark, overheat and catch fire. Fires in collection vehicles and waste sites are becoming more common, and they put staff, residents and property at risk.

To keep everyone safe, please take small domestic batteries to a recycling point. Most supermarkets, electrical shops and household waste and recycling centres have dedicated battery bins.

Use our recycling point finder below to locate your nearest drop‑off point.

Recycle car batteries

Car batteries are classed as hazardous waste and must be stored and handled carefully. Please do not put them in your household bins or leave them out for collection.

You can take old car batteries to any of our six main household waste and recycling centres. We accept them free of charge. Once collected, they are sent to a licensed contractor who recovers the lead and plastic so they can be used to make new batteries.