Hitchin recycling centre bans items with lithium batteries following fire

A recycling centre has stopped accepting items containing lithium batteries following a fire.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue spent seven hours battling the blaze at the Nationwide Metal Recycling site in Cadwell Lane, Hitchin, at 23:50 GMT on 7 February.

The company claimed it started in a storage area for domestic appliances, and the most likely cause was a lithium-ion battery found in hoovers and electric scooters.

A spokesperson confirmed they were immediately banned along with other battery-operated devices at the Hitchin depot.

Lithium-ion batteries, which are lightweight and rechargeable, can also be found in a range of household devices, such as laptops, e-cigarettes and electric bikes.

The batteries were safe in "their correct use, [but] if damaged, can be subject to a spontaneous fire", added the spokesperson.

Nationwide Metal Recycling confirmed it acted as a holding facility for these items from other recycling centres.

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