Herefordshire Council has launched kerbside collections of batteries and small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) items this week.
Residents must remove batteries from broken small electrical items, put them in a plastic bag and place them on top of their bin.
On either recycling or waste collection day, the bin collection crew will then put them in a separate cage on the collection vehicle and take them for recycling.
Electrical items and batteries should never be put into household rubbish or recycling bins as they can cause contamination or fire.
Data from the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 showed that 14 million tonnes of electronic waste is improperly thrown out with regular household waste globally every year.
There were over 1,200 battery fires in bin lorries and at waste sites in the UK in 2023, an increase of 71% from 700 in 2022, according to research by Material Focus.
Commenting on the new collection system, Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “I am delighted that we are able to provide this enhanced service to all residents across the county.
“Small electric items and batteries present a huge challenge if they are placed in household bins as they cause contamination and increase the risk of fire in collection vehicles or at waste sites.
“I hope all residents get behind this new service to ensure that even more of our waste is recycled in the right way.”
