London waste authorities join forces to urge government intervention on £1 billion waste problem

London’s four largest waste authorities, along with several waste management organisations, have banded together to collectively urge the government to tackle the rising problem of battery fires.  

As items with lithium-ion batteries become ever more present in day-to-day life (from smartphones to vapes), waste authorities face a growing problem in safely managing these tricky-to-recycle and often dangerous batteries when they are either discarded or come to the end of their lives, either within the item they have powered or as a separated out item. With discarded batteries causing around 1200 fires in 2023* and the number only rising, London waste organisations have written a letter to Minister for Nature Mary Creagh MP asking for direct government intervention to support better management of this waste stream.  

Drawing attention to the shocking rise in fires caused by discarded batteries, the signatories wrote: “We are writing to push this issue up the agenda and request urgent action to address the real and significant risk it poses.”   

The organisations also pointed to skyrocketing costs associated with both battery fires and the difficult battery recycling process, noting that Eunomia and ESA estimate the cost of battery fires is over £1 billion per year*. The signatories called on government to ensure producers are sharing the burden of those costs, by making longer-lasting products that meet minimum production standards and by contributing funding towards better battery recycling schemes (such as kerbside collections).   

The introduction of new regulations for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for batteries established in 2009 – proves it is possible for central government policy to have a real impact in this space. However, the signatories noted that “with the proliferation of, and advances in, electricals, these regulations have not worked sufficiently to create the right disposal behaviour among consumers. They must be enhanced.”  

This unprecedented alliance of waste authorities and waste organisations reflects the gravity and urgency of improving battery disposal. The signatories highlighted this to the minister when writing that “the risks posed by waste battery fires are simply too great, and we urge your department to bring forward these policy interventions at the earliest possible opportunity.” 

The full letter with all signatories listed can be found on the NLWA website.