Pendle News Room

From August local people will be able to recycle small household batteries from home for free, by putting batteries in a clear bag on top of their blue or brown recycling bin.

The new scheme will accept AAA, AA, C D button cell, laptop and mobile phone batteries – but not large batteries like car batteries which should be recycled at nearby Household Waste Recycling Centres in Barnoldswick and Burnley. 

Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “We are switched on about battery recycling, making it easier and safer for Pendle people to recycle their small household batteries.

“They can cause fires if put in the bin,” he warned.

“Last year batteries caused a fire in one of our bin wagons which put our crew at risk and cost around £2,000 to sort out, as well as delaying our rounds!

“Please recycle your batteries so that no hazardous materials go into our bin wagons or into landfill.”

Local people are being urged to keep their batteries leaflet to make sure they recycle it right or visit www.pendle.gov.uk/recycling for details. 

David Walker, the Council’s Environmental Services Manager, said: “We’re pleased to provide this new recycling collection service thanks to funding support from Lancashire County Council. 

“Thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions could be avoided if more people recycle their batteries.   

“Most batteries are put into rubbish bins and taken to landfill sites which can cause soil and water pollution when batteries begin to rot away and leak.  

“Recycling is a great way to protect the environment. Every recycled battery is taken apart and the valuable materials are used to make something new.  

“Batteries can be reprocessed into new materials such as fertiliser, plastics and ceramics and some parts can be used to form new batteries,” he explained. 

The leaflet which is being delivered to over 34,000 homes in Pendle flags up how to store batteries safely before recycling them and to put them out in a clear bag once they have 10 or more batteries.

“We’re also reminding people that all major supermarkets and DIY stores have to accept batteries for recycling.”

Local residents are being asked to dispose of things like airpods, charging cases and mobile phones and calculators at the waste electricals point at their nearest household Waste Recycling Centre. 

Details on what you can and can’t recycle and the link to information on Lancashire County Council Household Waste Centres can be found at - www.pendle.gov.uk/recycling