ESA calls for universal kerbside collection of batteries and electricals

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has called on the government to implement universal kerbside collection for batteries and small waste electricals, following research showing it could prevent hundreds of waste fires annually.

In an open letter to Defra minister Mary Creagh, a coalition including the ESA, National Association of Waste Disposal Officers, and British Metals Recycling Association urged urgent policy reform to address what they describe as an "epidemic" of battery-related fires.

The letter accompanies new research by environmental consultancy Eunomia that finds nationwide kerbside collections could reduce waste fires from over 700 a year to approximately 100, delivering net benefits of £5.67 billion over ten years.

Michael Topham, ESA Chairman and Biffa CEO, said: "The UK is facing a growing epidemic of battery-related waste fires which threatens lives, vital infrastructure and the environment. Whether discarded on their own or hidden inside electronic devices, batteries wreak havoc when they are thrown in the wrong bin."

According to Material Focus data cited in the report, UK households incorrectly discard nearly 6kg of electrical items each year, with approximately 3,000 batteries thrown away every minute - equivalent to 1.6 billion in 2023/24. Battery-related waste fires increased by 71 per cent to more than 1,200 incidents between 2022 and 2023, costing the sector over £1 billion annually.

Jon Hastings, Chair of the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) added: "Fires in waste collection vehicles and treatment facilities pose a risk to staff working in this critical industry, and are causing operational disruption and higher costs for local authorities."

Currently, 100 of 391 local authorities offer kerbside collection for small mixed waste electricals, covering just 23 per cent of households. The letter signatories are urging implementation of producer-funded collections through Extended Producer Responsibility mechanisms, following the proposals outlined in Defra's 2023 consultation on reforming WEEE regulations.

James Kelly, CEO of the British Metals Recycling Association, said: "The best way to tackle this is by introducing a kerbside collection scheme, which would make it easier and simpler for the householder to recycle these items. However, this would need to be supported by a national communications campaign."

In its letter to Minister Creagh, the coalition highlighted that the waste industry has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in fire prevention measures, but these only address symptoms rather than the root cause of battery-related fires.

Collection system design

The Eunomia research examined three collection models, finding that retrofitting existing collection vehicles to store batteries and small electricals separately delivered the highest net benefits.

Existing methods for retrofitting Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) to collect small WEEE often involve adding dedicated storage spaces separate from the main waste compartments. Common approaches include fitting various types of compartments or cages underneath the vehicle's main body, which can sometimes be shared with textiles but usually have separate sections for batteries. Alternatively, some vehicles utilize distinct pods specifically for battery collection, while others have large cages mounted onto the rear of the vehicle. These retrofits allow for the separate collection of small electricals during regular waste rounds.

The recommended approach would involve adapting vehicles used for co-mingled recyclables collection by fitting undercarriage cages between the axles. For kerbside sort vehicles, which already have multiple compartments or stillages for separate waste streams, a dedicated compartment would be allocated specifically for small electricals and batteries.

The report estimates the UK-wide vehicle retrofitting costs at £390,000 annually. The capital expenditure needed to implement the service would equate to approximately 70 pence per household, according to the research.

For households using wheeled bins for recycling, the report suggests residents would present small electricals and batteries alongside their existing bins on collection day, with crews placing these items in the dedicated cages.

The report’s author Leyla Lugal, Principal Consultant at Eunomia, said: "Lithium battery fires are hurting people, the economy, and the environment. With the number of electrical products on the market set to rise, this problem will get worse without intervention."

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport and Waste at Somerset Council, which already offers the service, noted: "Collection of batteries from the kerbside is positive for both our residents and the environment. Introducing the collection of batteries and small electricals was a simple way to make sure the right thing was done with them."

However, the research identifies several implementation challenges, including space constraints for cage retrofitting on electric refuse collection vehicles where the area between axles is already occupied by the vehicle's battery.

Public participation presents another obstacle, with the report highlighting that a national communications campaign would be essential for driving high participation rates. This is reflected in the report cost modelling an initial expenditure of £48.9 million in 2026, followed by annual investment of £16.4 million thereafter to ensure householders are educated to use the service.

Defra impact assessment

The Defra impact assessment published alongside its 2023 consultation on reforming the WEEE regulations specifically evaluated the costs and benefits of introducing kerbside collections for small WEEE.

The assessment examined several options, with Option 2 proposing a UK-wide household collection system for small WEEE financed by producers. According to the impact assessment, implementing this option would cost approximately £168 million over 10 years, while generating benefits of £203 million, resulting in a net present value of £35 million.

Defra's assessment calculated that implementing kerbside collections could divert an additional 73,000 tonnes of small WEEE for recycling over a decade. The benefits primarily stemmed from material value recovery, avoided landfill tax, and carbon emissions reductions.
However, the Defra assessment did not account for the fire prevention benefits that form the core of the Eunomia study's economic case. When these fire-related costs are included, Eunomia calculated that the net benefits increase substantially to £5.67 billion over 10 years.

The ESA notes that the consultation received 64 per cent support from respondents for the proposal that producers should finance collection of small WEEE from households.