Lancaster City Council is inviting residents to make a positive difference to the environment by using its new household battery recycling scheme.
From next Monday (April 18th), householders will be able to leave their small spent household batteries out for collection with their recyclables.
All the batteries collected by the crews will be placed in a special box fitted to the collection vehicles and sent for sorting and processing. Metals and chemicals will be extracted and used to make new batteries and other products.
To ensure the batteries are kept separate to other household recyclables, batteries should be collected in a clean lidded recyclable container such as a margarine tub.
Then, when at least half full, the tub can be placed on the lid of a recycling bin or box. The container should be clearly marked ‘Batteries’ and must not be placed inside a recycling box or bin as it may remain unnoticed and cause a fire on board the wagon or at the recyclables processing plant.
You can recycle small batteries of all shapes via the scheme, including button and square batteries, and old rechargeable batteries. Batteries must always be removed from electrical items before being collected.
Large batteries such as laptop/phone/power tool batteries and car batteries or items where the batteries cannot be removed should be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Householders who do not have a lid for their recycling boxes can order a shower cap style lid free of charge by calling 01524 582491 or emailing customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk
Councillor Dave Brookes, Cabinet members for environmental services, said: "Around 600 million batteries reach the end of their usable life and become waste each year in the UK.
"It is really important that they are safely recycled, both to recover valuable materials, and to prevent harm to the environment. When batteries end up in landfill sites, the chemicals they contain often leak out into the ground which can cause soil, water, and even air pollution.
"More and more people say they are recycling their dead batteries, so we hope that by collecting them at kerbside on recycling day it will make it even easier for householders to dispose of them responsibly and make a positive difference for the environment."
Praise for Lancaster and Morecambe youngsters who took part in 'tongue movement' project
Clinic where students offer free legal advice to reopen at Lancaster University
Lines reopen after train derailment on Scotland-London line
Police arrest two and seize illegal bike in Morecambe
ITV commissions sixth series of Morecambe crime drama The Bay
E-bike shop moves from Lancaster to new Carnforth showroom
Lancaster workshop to tackle the issue of drink and needle spiking
Morecambe raw feeds shop up for three 'Animal Star' awards
Two new festivals proposed for Morecambe entertainment venue the Platform
Second day of disruption as work continues after train derails in Cumbria
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
