Mum faced £11,500 fine for binning batteries

Krystal Ogier said she accidentally threw away 23 AA batteries – which were inside children's toys – when her family were moving house in Guernsey.

She was left in tears when the private refuse firm she was using, Island Waste, told her there was a £500 penalty per battery. Even though the fine has been reduced to £1,000, Ogier said the cost would have an impact.

Island Waste said it heavily promoted the safe disposal of batteries due to fires they can cause and had worked with Ogier to accommodate payment of the fine.