Reconomy brand Valpak

Nov 28, 2023 | larac.org.uk | James Armitage |Reconomy brand Valpak

Earlier this month we saw another alarming fire caused by rechargeable batteries at a local authority facility. Starting in a metal storage skip, the blaze is sadly not a unique incident – in 2021, the ESA reported that 48 per cent of the 201 waste fires in the UK are caused by lithium-ion batteries. Crushed or water-damaged batteries are prone to combustion.

Aug 11, 2023 | larac.org.uk | James Armitage |Reconomy brand Valpak

With all the attention turned to packaging in recent weeks, it’s easy to forget that the wheels are also turning for WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment). But with the release of the government’s consultation on WEEE expected later this year, this is the time to think about what we hope to achieve through an update to the WEEE regulations. Local authority collections and HWRCs lie at the heart of the system, so it is important that councils make their voice heard.