Council urges action on batteries after second fire

An "unlucky" council is urging the government to take stronger action on household battery disposal after its bin collections were disrupted by two fires within eight months.

Central Bedfordshire Council suspended recycling collections after a fire broke out at a waste unit in Bletchley on Tuesday.

The cause is not yet known, but in July 2025 a recycling storage centre near Bedford was destroyed by a fire believed to have been started by a lithium battery.

The council now wants the government to change the way batteries are disposed of so they do not end up in the bin. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said a review of UK batteries regulations was under way.

"We genuinely believe the government needs to bring in a national change in the way we deal with batteries," said John Baker, the council's executive member for finance and highways.

• Why are household batteries dangerous in waste?

Baker said the Bletchley site, which is in the neighbouring county, was the council's "contingency" option.

"We are very unlucky as an authority that we can be hit twice in eight months," he said.

"The previous site being used, in Elstow, actually burned down last July – we believe it was due to a lithium battery.

"So essentially the council's contingency has now been destroyed," he added.

He said the council was "not alone", citing examples of other waste centres damaged by fires.

"This is a national problem. We've got millions of these things reaching the consumer chain each year.

"No battery should end up in the bin when it's properly recycled.

"And we need to make sure we've got clear recycling guidelines, and the government's supporting it.

"We're going to invite the secretary of state to the council to talk about this problem."

Baker, an Independent, said the council was working hard to find "a reliable solution for residents".

"What we don't want is to bring a system in place for a few weeks and say, 'well, I'm sorry, we're at a capacity elsewhere'," he explained.

Residents affected by the suspension of collections were advised to "retain their waste and store it in their recycle bins, or temporarily place bags in the black bins".

Household waste centres are also open for use.

"We're determined to get the system up and running as quickly as we can," he added.

A Defra spokesperson said: "The government is working hard with partners across industry to review UK Batteries Regulations to help prevent battery-related fire incidents, particularly in waste centres.

"We urge the public to dispose of batteries safely at an appropriate collection point for recycling, or through a specific kerbside battery collection service if provided by the local authority – not in household waste."

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