Coastal Recycling raising awareness of battery disposal risks
The dangers of throwing batteries into your waste are being highlighted by a waste management team following a fire at one of its recycling facilities last month.
Coastal Recycling explains a single lithium-ion battery started a blaze at its Torrington site on Tuesday 14 October.
Managers say the fire escalated in seconds as it became fuelled by surrounding waste. They’re reminding people to responsibly dispose of batteries.
The facility’s heat-resistant concrete storage bunkers meant the fire was contained. A fast response from Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue teams prevented the situation from getting worse. No injuries were reported.
‘The fire caused significant disruption to our operations, and the impact is still ongoing,’ explains James Bidwell, Group Operations’ Manager for Coastal Recycling.
‘The building was unusable for a week, and one of our storage tunnels remains out of service until further repairs are completed. We may not see full functionality restored until the new year.’
‘Battery fires are becoming alarmingly common. Over the past year alone, we’ve faced at least a dozen incidents where batteries actually ignited.’
‘This is the first one we haven’t been able to control ourselves – and that’s not counting the hundreds of batteries we’ve had to pull from waste streams to prevent further risk.’
Experts are warning it only takes one battery to start a fire and are asking people to properly dispose of the items.
‘Battery fires are becoming alarmingly common’
People are being urged to use designated drop-off points at shops, recycling centres or kerbside collection (if available) as a way to dispose of their batteries.
Experts explain incidents relating to Lithium-ion battery fires are becoming a daily reality for UK fire services across the country.
They add fires can occur in homes, waste collection vehicles and recycling centres when batteries are crushed, punctured or exposed to heat.
According to the North London Waste Authority’s 2025 ‘Lead the Charge’ campaign, high risk items include: electronic toothbrushes, smartphones, e-scooter batteries, power tools and vapes.
Its’ website says ‘Lithium-ion batteries (found in rechargeable electricals like phones and laptops) can reach up to 800 degrees when they overheat. This is hotter than the surface of Mercury and even some molten lava.’
Coastal Recycling explains it’s continuing to work closely with fire services and local authorities to ensure the safety of its sites and the wider community.
It’s also produced a blog on the subject: Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: A Growing Threat Hidden in Everyday Items.
