West Sussex residents urged to ‘Stop the Spark’ after dozens of battery fires

West Sussex residents are being urged to keep batteries, vapes and electrical items out of household bins after dozens of fires were linked to them across the county this year.

West Sussex County Council has joined forces with waste contractor Biffa, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and environmental education charity Wastebuster to launch a new “Stop the Spark” campaign.

The campaign follows 40 fires linked to batteries and electrical items so far in 2026 at the county’s Materials Recycling Facility in Ford, in waste collection vehicles and at Recycling Centres.

An electrical fire has also previously broken out at Chichester Recycling Centre in Westhampnett.

The campaign carries a simple message to residents: “If it has a plug, battery or cable, don’t bin it.”

Batteries, disposable and reusable vapes and small electrical items should not be placed in household general waste or recycling bins.

If batteries are crushed, punctured or damaged during collection, transport or processing, they can overheat and ignite, potentially causing serious fires.

Councillor Natasha Davie, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Many people don't realise that batteries hidden inside everyday items can cause serious fires when they enter the recycling and waste system. These incidents put people at risk and can disrupt services for communities across West Sussex.

“We're asking residents to make one simple change: if an item has a plug, battery or cable, don't put it in your bin. Instead, take it to a Recycling Centre or another suitable collection point so it can be disposed of safely.”

The council says battery-related fires can put residents, firefighters, collection crews and staff at waste facilities at risk.

They can also damage vehicles and equipment, disrupt recycling services and lead to temporary site closures.

A further 199 fires caused by batteries, vapes and small electrical items were recorded at the Anaerobic Digestion and Resource Recovery Facility in Horsham between June 2024 and May 2025.

Darren Wickings, Station Manager at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said battery fires were becoming an increasing concern.

He said: “Many of these fires start when items that contain lithium-ion batteries are placed in household waste or recycling bins and are then damaged during collection, sorting or processing.

“Once punctured or crushed, these batteries can ignite quickly and without warning.”

He added: “The good news is that these fires are largely preventable. We are asking residents to take a moment to check before throwing something away.

“If it has a plug, battery or cable, don't bin it.”

Residents are instead being encouraged to use dedicated battery recycling points, Recycling Centres and available kerbside collection services.

Susie Chasmar, Contract Director for Biffa West Sussex, said the increasing number of battery-powered products meant correct disposal was becoming increasingly important.

She said: “Whether it’s a vape, a toy, a power tool or a household gadget, batteries should never be placed in your general waste or recycling bin.

“We’re urging residents across West Sussex to use dedicated battery recycling points or household waste Recycling Centres.”

The campaign also aims to encourage children and families to think more carefully about disposing of batteries.

Through Wastebuster’s Recycle to Read Battery Collection Programme, 21 West Sussex schools collected 392kg of used batteries during the 2025-26 academic year.

West Sussex residents also correctly recycled just under 50 tonnes of batteries, more than eight tonnes of vapes and three tonnes of small electrical items at Recycling Centres between June 2024 and May 2025.

Keeping batteries and electrical items out of general waste also allows materials including lithium, copper and aluminium to be recovered and reused.

Residents can find information about where to recycle batteries, vapes and electrical items through the Stop the Spark section of the West Sussex County Council website.

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