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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have thrown a bunch of smashed up old mobile phones in the bin

460 replies

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 18:45

Sims removed but otherwise just as they were

I'd been keeping of them to "destroy securely" but they're driving me insane around the house so enough was enough

Will I get digitally kidnapped now? They were really old and shit phones.

OP posts:
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16
Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:46

SleepingisanArt · 11/01/2026 19:43

OP - Legislation was introduced in 2009 to stop people putting batteries in the bin. Since then every supermarket, DIY store and many other places have bins for putting batteries in. You can be fined for putting them in your household waste as it is a legal requirement that all batteries (from AAA to laptop) are recycled.

A bin lorry here caught fire (luckily nobody hurt) when a phone battery was crushed and exploded...

Which legislation?

OP posts:
TY78910 · 11/01/2026 19:45

You should have taken them to an electronics shop to be recycled. That’s awful tbh.

Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:45

HoldingTheDoor · 11/01/2026 19:41

Exactly. Why bother posting if you didn’t think that it was an issue? It seems very odd.

Show quote history

I thought identity theft was an issue. Can honestly say has never ever ever occurred to me that it was a massive conflagration situation and if it genuinely is (and honestly I'm getting net zero neurosis vibes right now) it should be communicated to the public.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 11/01/2026 19:44

OP there are tubs for batteries in most supermarkets. Our office has them even. How can you not have.

We are only ignorant until we learn different.

Now you know.

Anything with a battery doesn't go in the main waste.

Dead vapes don't go in battery disposal tubs. They need to be recycled differently.

Don't be that person.

TheNightingalesStarling · 11/01/2026 19:44

We have to keep small electrical items and batteries separate from our rubbish and they ate collected at the same time as recycling. Special bit on the van for them. (I'm guessing no crusher).

Its a well known fact they can't go in general waste.

Bubblesgun · 11/01/2026 19:43

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:39

Can honestly tell you I have never heard of this so I am quite confident most other people haven't either

Sorry, binmen, I do respect your art a great deal

Show quote history

Now you re a cringe. I am disgusted. I really hope you are widing us up. Your poor poor kids if you have any to have a mother this dense

SleepingisanArt · 11/01/2026 19:43

OP - Legislation was introduced in 2009 to stop people putting batteries in the bin. Since then every supermarket, DIY store and many other places have bins for putting batteries in. You can be fined for putting them in your household waste as it is a legal requirement that all batteries (from AAA to laptop) are recycled.

A bin lorry here caught fire (luckily nobody hurt) when a phone battery was crushed and exploded...

Kingdomofsleep · 11/01/2026 19:43

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:39

Can honestly tell you I have never heard of this so I am quite confident most other people haven't either

Sorry, binmen, I do respect your art a great deal

Show quote history

Op just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean you're in the majority.

You must walk around with your eyes closed honestly - you open battery packaging without glancing at it, you walk blithely past the battery recycling bins at the supermarket (and perhaps in your workplace too)... so many ways you could have learnt this op! Also if I recall correctly we get a leaflet each year with the recycling collection dates on and that also lists forbidden items.

Elektra1 · 11/01/2026 19:41

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:39

Can honestly tell you I have never heard of this so I am quite confident most other people haven't either

Sorry, binmen, I do respect your art a great deal

Show quote history

You’re obviously a wind-up merchant if you think risking causing a fire is amusing. Everyone I know knows that you don’t put batteries or anything electrical in the general waste. Perhaps you’d change your mind if someone you loved was injured or died in a fire caused by this.

HoldingTheDoor · 11/01/2026 19:41

Arlanymor · 11/01/2026 19:40

On a Sunday?! And you posted about it tonight as if you had just done it.

Edited
Show quote history

Exactly. Why bother posting if you didn’t think that it was an issue? It seems very odd.

Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:40

Thewonderfuleveryday · 11/01/2026 19:40

I never bin batteries. Been dropping them off for recycling for well over a decade at least.

I have a tub over my sink where batteries, foil, electrical cables and small items and crockery all goes in to be dropped at recycling every so often.

Foil????????

OP posts:
Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:40

Ineedanewsofa · 11/01/2026 19:39

You get bin collections on a Sunday?! Where is this utopia?!

City centre. Big communal bins. Daily collections a serious boon.

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 11/01/2026 19:40

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:38

It was collected this morning and there have been zero fiery infernos reported since

Show quote history

On a Sunday?! And you posted about it tonight as if you had just done it.

Thewonderfuleveryday · 11/01/2026 19:40

I never bin batteries. Been dropping them off for recycling for well over a decade at least.

I have a tub over my sink where batteries, foil, electrical cables and small items and crockery all goes in to be dropped at recycling every so often.

Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:39

Elektra1 · 11/01/2026 19:38

Batteries of any kind should never go in the general bin as they cause fires. I put batteries into a little box when they get swapped out, and when I next go to the tip, dispose of them there. I think that’s what any responsible citizen does.

Show quote history

Can honestly tell you I have never heard of this so I am quite confident most other people haven't either

Sorry, binmen, I do respect your art a great deal

OP posts:
Ineedanewsofa · 11/01/2026 19:39

You get bin collections on a Sunday?! Where is this utopia?!

HoldingTheDoor · 11/01/2026 19:39

How on earth have you managed to ignore/miss the hundreds of reports and articles about the dangers of lithium batteries?

And no it is not too late to retrieve them. It might be a bit unpleasant but it’s better than killing some poor refuse worker just because you can’t be bothered to recycle them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkv9nnx42o.amp

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cr4xnvp25gqo

Refuse workers use hand held fire extinguishers to try and put the fire out in the back of a bin lorry. A large amount of smoke and some flames can be seen

Brixton bin lorry fire prompts warnings over battery disposal - BBC News

LFB warned against throwing away lithium batteries after the "frightening" fire in south London.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkv9nnx42o.amp

Bubblesgun · 11/01/2026 19:39

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:34

Fined based on what?

Show quote history

On you not recycling batteries and phones. This is sonso bad and i hope you get fined. I really really do

Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:38

Arlanymor · 11/01/2026 19:37

Yes there are! It's via your local authority - an FPN. You're just winding people up now - no one can deliberately be this dense.

Edited
Show quote history

Please post the legislation that empowers a fine, thx

OP posts:
Elektra1 · 11/01/2026 19:38

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:25

I just don't believe most people recycle this stuff

Maybe this thread should be titled aibu to think nobody recycles batteries

Show quote history

Batteries of any kind should never go in the general bin as they cause fires. I put batteries into a little box when they get swapped out, and when I next go to the tip, dispose of them there. I think that’s what any responsible citizen does.

Original poster
Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:38

Arlanymor · 11/01/2026 19:33

It's not too late to retrieve them - even if your rubbish is collected in the morning, you just don't want to do it! Get your rubber gloves on and get it sorted. It's really irresponsible and dangerous.

It was collected this morning and there have been zero fiery infernos reported since

OP posts:
KateShugakIsALegend · 11/01/2026 19:38

nomas · 11/01/2026 18:46

I think the environmental impact is worse than any risk to your data.

This.

There is no 'away'. Only our beautiful planet.

Arlanymor · 11/01/2026 19:37

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:36

There is no fining mechanism!

Show quote history

Yes there are! It's via your local authority - an FPN. You're just winding people up now - no one can deliberately be this dense.

catsarethefuture · 11/01/2026 19:37

Were you raised by wolves?

Kingdomofsleep · 11/01/2026 19:37

Pavementworrier · 11/01/2026 19:36

Honestly think if it's such a big deal they should put posters up or something

It's literally written on the back of every battery packaging