South Kesteven District Council

Residents are being urged to keep old batteries out of their bins following a series of refuse lorry fires in the county.

To keep bin crews and refuse centre workers safe, people should dispose of batteries in dedicated battery bins at retailers or their local household waste recycling centre. This also applies to household items containing batteries, or rechargeable items such as shavers

Lincolnshire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are fully open and details of locations and opening hours can be found online at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/recycling-waste/find-recycling-centre

Cllr Mark Whittington, South Kesteven District Council Cabinet member for Waste Services, said: “Batteries and electrical items are a recognised fire hazard, something that is more of a risk when they are compacted in our freighters or damaged when people put them in the household waste. A single spark can easily ignite the lithium they contain, leading to a fire.

“Batteries, chargers, old mobile phones, vape pens and other small devices should not be placed in bins. They need to be disposed of separately because of this inherent risk.

“Recent refuse vehicle fires in Boston and Lincoln resulted in many thousands of pounds of damage, not to mention potential danger through the fire itself or explosions caused by damaged batteries.

“This results in delays to household waste collection, can put vehicles off the road and also takes up fire service resources that could be urgently needed elsewhere. There are also further delays at the transfer station as the remainder of an affected load has to be dealt with separately.

“Please dispose of batteries and electrical items correctly at the appropriate recycling facility. Even commonly used AA and AAA alkaline varieties can start a fire.

“Advice on what items can go in what bin can be found on the SKDC website at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/whichbin”

All electrical items can be disposed of at the Household Waste Recycling Centre. Batteries can be handed over at the Household Waste Recycling Centre or in dedicated battery bins in many local retailers.

There is a handy link to find your nearest supermarket/hardware store disposal point: https://bit.ly/batterySKDC

Battery fires can occur in refuse trucks, potentially harming the crews that operate them. | Photo: South Kesteven District Council

Two local councillors have sampled the amazing views from a newly installed bench on the route between Rosetti Court, Grantham, and Harrowby Hall.

The bench, part-paid for by South Kesteven District Councillors Linda Wootten and George Chivers, marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Cllr Wootten said: “It gives a site for rest and contemplation with the bonus of stunning views of the Belton estate.

“It is part of a wider project from Londonthorpe and Harrowby Without Parish Council, which involved them buying some open space nearby and also planting commemorative trees.”

Cllr Chivers added: “We were both very pleased to be able to assist with the overall improvements to walkers in this area, which the parish is renaming as Jubilee Mount. It all helps the area (to be) much more attractive for those who want to get away from it all into the countryside.”

Cllr Wootten contributed £500 to the £2,000-plus project through her SKDC Ward Member Grant, while Cllr Chivers donated £250. A further £250 was donated by a member of the public, Terry Claxton, through the parish’s Tom Childs Award. A further £30 towards a tree was donated by a resident.

The plot of land acquired will be established as a preserved natural habitat, where a parish Working Party cleared and levelled a space for the seat, as well as strimming a new pathway and pruning back dead ash trees.

A panoramic information board showing the features visible from the seat will be installed.

The Ward Member Grant fund from which the councillor donations were given has ended, but community projects can still benefit from up to £5,000 from the SK Community Fund, which is open to local groups and organisations to support one-off projects or events for the benefit of the district’s residents.