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Recycling batteries and vapes

Batteries, vapes and other items which contain a battery should never be put in your bin. Even when they've run out of charge, these 'dead' or 'zombie' batteries can cause serious fires if they ignite or explode when damaged or crushed. This can quickly set fire to other waste in bins, bin lorries and at the recycling centre, leading to serious incidents that put lives at risk.

Batteries and any items containing them should always be recycled at a suitable recycling point.

Items which may contain a battery

Batteries are often found in items such as:

  • laptops, tablets, mobile phones and other Bluetooth devices
  • electric toothbrushes and shavers
  • radio-controlled toys
  • power tools
  • e-scooters
  • e-cigarettes and vapes

Any item which contains a battery should display the crossed out bin symbol:

Crossed Out Bin Symbol

Where to recycle batteries and electricals

Batteries should always be recycled separately from other waste material. You can recycle batteries at:

If the battery can't be taken out of an item, it should be treated as an electrical item. Electrical items can be recycled at any of our household waste recycling centres. You can also find other places to recycle electrical items.

Where to recycle vapes

Vapes contain lithium batteries which pose a serious fire risk if damaged. Any retailer, including convenience stores, who sell vapes are legally required to offer a 'take back' service and must accept a used vape from someone who buys a new one. Find where to recycle vapes or read more about vape recycling regulations.

More information

Why proper battery recycling matters

In 2019 to 2020 nearly 260 UK waste facility fires were linked to zombie batteries. Of the 22,000 tonnes of batteries thrown out each year, only a third are recycled correctly - the rest end up in the rubbish bin or mixed with other recycling.

We support the national Take Charge campaign which aims to stop fires causes by discarded batteries. Visit the website to:

Why proper vape recycling matters

Each week more than 100 million vapes are discarded in bins across the UK. Since their introduction there's been a significant increase in fire incidents, as vapes contain lithium batteries which pose a fire risk if damaged.

It's essential to recycle vapes whenever possible to maximise the recovery of valuable materials. For example, the lithium retrieved from vapes is also used in electric car batteries. By recycling vapes the UK could prevent the loss of nearly 5000 electric cars' worth of lithium each year.