Warning of hidden fire risk in Christmas presents

Many readers who will be buying rechargeable devices such as toys, phones, toothbrushes and laptops as presents this Christmas, will be unaware of a fire risk

If the lithium-ion batteries are thrown in household waste bins they can explode if damaged or crushed, warned green energy expert Ron Fox.

He said that according to The Environmental Services Association, they cause about 700 fires every year in dustcarts and at recycling sites, costing fire services and waste operators around £158m a year.

“It is a growing problem as more and more people are using and disposing of more electronic devices,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd. “Then they are putting them in with household rubbish rather than getting rid of them properly.” 

“At the recycling centres the batteries, which have become more powerful in recent years, are likely to be compacted, smashed or they might get wet.

“This can cause them to short-circuit, which if they are with other flammable materials like plastic, paper and card, can lead to quite big fires.”

He said another problem was that some musical greetings cards often have small batteries hidden inside.

Ron explained that the main type of rechargeable battery in portable consumer electronics consist of two electrodes divided by a separator. That allows charged particles – lithium ions – to flow, through a solvent, from one to the other. Recharging the battery pushes the ions back to where they started.

If the battery is intact and contained, it is generally very safe. But if the electrodes make direct contact with each other, it can cause all the charged particles to suddenly discharge in an explosion, which, as the chemicals inside the battery are flammable, can quickly cause a fire.

“The best advice is for people to take any batteries to put them in the special containers at their local recycling centre or to any major supermarket where there is usually a special bin,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

For those who need more information non-profit organisation Material Focus runs an online search tool to help people find their nearest recycling point.

Meanwhile, fire safety experts and electrical-waste campaigners are also calling for clearer rules on the safe disposal of batteries – including how to recycle them. 

But the government has now delayed a consultation on this issue until 2023.

“For advice about green energy and recycling contact me on 01782 756995 – but in the meantime have a happy and peaceful Christmas,” concluded Ron. 

Caption: Beware of the fire risk when throwing away batteries.