Home / Environment / Council Faces Bin Fire Chaos: Calls for Battery Safety Action
Council Faces Bin Fire Chaos: Calls for Battery Safety Action
19 Mar
Summary
- Two fires disrupt council recycling collections within eight months.
- Council urges government for national change in battery disposal.
- Fire believed to be started by a lithium battery destroyed a center.
Central Bedfordshire Council has suspended its recycling collections after a fire at a waste unit in Bletchley on Tuesday. This incident follows a similar fire in July 2025 that destroyed a recycling storage centre near Bedford, believed to have been ignited by a lithium battery. The council is now strongly urging the government to implement a national change in household battery disposal methods to prevent such disruptions.
John Baker, the council's executive member for finance and highways, described the situation as "unlucky" and emphasized that this is a national problem affecting waste centres across the country. Millions of batteries are sold annually, and the council insists that no battery should end up in household bins. They are seeking clearer recycling guidelines supported by government action and have invited the secretary of state to discuss the issue.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson stated that the government is reviewing UK Batteries Regulations to prevent fires. They advised the public to use appropriate collection points or kerbside services for battery recycling, rather than household waste. Residents affected by the collection suspension are asked to store their waste temporarily.
