'Dispose of batteries properly to avoid fires'

A warning has been issued about disposing of items containing batteries this Christmas.

Things such as toys, power tools, vapes, small gadgets and some Christmas cards can contain hidden batteries which are not always possible to remove before they are thrown away.

They can explode and cause fires in homes and at recycling centres.

Lee Wilkins, of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Fires caused by batteries in recycling centres are completely avoidable."

The advice is to take items with batteries in them to a recycling point instead of throwing them away at home.

FCC Environment, which runs 11 recycling centres on behalf of Suffolk County Council, has seen a sharp rise in the number of fires caused by batteries and electronic items.

In April, a fire caused by a battery at the Red Lodge site near Newmarket took eight days to put out and caused £60,000-worth of damage.

Chris Chambers, the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet member for waste, said: "We've seen first-hand in Suffolk how incorrectly disposing of batteries can pose a danger to the environment and local communities.

"Incidents can also delay bin collection services, reduce opening hours at recycling centres or even close them – and this time of year is when the industry is at its busiest."

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