Battery safety reminder following fire at Twickenham depot

Residents are reminded to dispose of batteries safely after a fire at our depot in Twickenham last Friday was caused by a battery that had been incorrectly placed in a paper and cardboard recycling bank.

Thankfully, no one was harmed in the incident. Vigilant depot staff spotted smoke coming from the recycling material and immediately alerted the London Fire Brigade, who arrived quickly and brought the blaze under control.

The incident serves as an important reminder that batteries should never be placed in household recycling and rubbish bins or community recycling banks. When damaged, batteries can spark and cause fires, putting residents, waste collection crews and recycling staff at risk.

Councillor Elizabeth Gant, Vice Chair of Richmond Council's Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, said: "Thankfully, no one was injured and our depot staff acted quickly to raise the alarm, preventing what could have been a much more serious incident.

"This highlights why it is so important to recycle batteries correctly. Batteries should never be placed in recycling or rubbish bins at home or at our community banks, as they can cause fires when damaged during collection and processing.

"We are asking all residents to dispose of batteries safely at a dedicated recycling point. By doing so, you can help protect our hard-working waste crews, recycling staff and the wider community."

Batteries must be taken to a dedicated battery recycling point. There are many battery recycling locations across the borough, including in selected libraries. Retailers that sell significant quantities of batteries are also legally required to provide free collection points for used batteries.

Residents can find their nearest battery recycling point and check how to recycle a wide range of household items by using our Recycling A-Z guide. The guide provides information on the correct disposal method for most household items, helping residents recycle more and reduce the risk of dangerous incidents.

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