Eco & Environment | Posted on March 11th, 2026 | return to news

BCP Council urges safe battery recycling

As kerbside battery collections have ended, people are urged to use battery and vape drop-off points in shops and supermarkets.

Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole (BCP) Council has ended its kerbside battery collections.

Batteries and items containing batteries thrown into household bins — both recycling and rubbish — have caused significant damage to waste collection vehicles and facilities. Several recent incidents have forced temporary closures of recycling transfer centres and disrupted services.

BCP Council is encouraging residents to use the many free and legally required battery and vape drop-off points in shops and supermarkets. Batteries and vapes can also be taken to any council recycling centre for safe recycling.

Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said: “Since January 2025 to date we have had 11 fires linked to incorrect battery disposal, which poses an unacceptable danger.

“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.”

The council is working closely with Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS), who continue to warn that crushed or punctured batteries — particularly lithium-ion batteries — can ignite or explode when damaged in waste lorries.

To find your nearest battery recycling location, visit https://recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/electrical-recycling-near-me.