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

do either of them sell batteries?

Only if they sell more than 36 kilograms in weight per annum, that's a lot of AA batteries.

It's depressing how many people on here, most with children, don't care

I wouldn't worry - it's definitely not mainstream knowledge it's just that being aggressive about this sort of thing is some people's personalities.

Well, that is depressing. You can recycle them so many places. Tescos, Sainsburys, Rymans, Robert Dyas, in many councils on top of your recycling bin, the rubbish tip...

I seriously thought that everyone would do it unless that have absolutely no care for our planet at all.

Good for them, the joy is I only have a general waste bin, it all goes in.

Only if they sell more than 36 kilograms in weight per annum, that's a lot of AA batteries.

FFS

What is so difficult about it that you can't do? Most other people give a shit about the environment enough to put different types of waste in different bins without it taking much thought or time.

even pre school kids can manage it!!

Then just ask where you should put them, they sell batteries, by jaw they have to take them for recycling! But their bin may be behind the counter out of the way in a small shop

I just don't believe most people recycle this stuff

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

Apologies if this has been asked or answered before as I haven't read all 15 pages.

I am disabled and cannot drive to get to the tip. I can get to the shop on my mobility scooter, si recycle batteries that way. But is there a way to recycle old phones other than going to the tip? Can I post them off somewhere or do supermarkets recycle them?

No, none of them do here, we’ve got a small Tesco & coop

It's absolutely not. I find people with very little actual responsibility in their lives get overwrought about stuff like this.

Same here. I thought it was just for environmental reasons the same as recycling anything. I am amazed at the responses on this thread.

There isn't anywhere near me for recycling batteries or small appliances. There used to be one in my workplace for batteries which I did use, but I work mainly from home now. I have been known to chuck both batteries and toasters, kettles and most recently a soup maker in the general waste bin!

I used to save up tetra packs and drive them to a collection point in a supermarket car park but then they got rid of the bins so for a while they went in the general waste bin. They have now said we can put them in the general recycling bin which I now of course do.

I now understand that batteries could create a fire risk (hadn't thought of that) so I will start saving them up again. I don't really want to have to drive to the recycling centre about 10 miles away though everytime I have something electrical. Making a special trip in the car to recycle seems to cancel out at least to some extent the positive effects of the recycling you are doing.

I have been looking at the legislation quoted and can't see where there is a huge amount of responsibility placed on household users. If our bin collection team noticed something in the wrong bin, I am sure they would just put a sticker on your bin or a leaflet though. I will read some more of the thread though to see if this is any clearer (and might as Chat GPT).

I also have a bunch of old tech taking up space because I daren't get rid because of data concerns. I would be even more worried about this if I were handing it over to a person at a recycling centre or drop of point purely for electricals rather than hyperthetically burying it amongst a load of general waste where it is much more unlikely to be found.

As usual there are people frothing about recycling (excluding the fire risk part), who no doubt use cleaing wipes, single use plastics, drive a gas guzzler, take frequent or long haul flights and eat meat and dairy. I don't do any of those things.

I am curious what my friends and family do and will ask.

I wouldn't bin a battery to be fair, but I don't bother sorting, black sack and in the general waste, life too short!!

I wouldn't worry - it's definitely not mainstream knowledge it's just that being aggressive about this sort of thing is some people's personalities.

No, none of them do here, we’ve got a small Tesco & coop

Thank you. looking at this though, I think they are looking at phones that may be suitable for them to sell on. I have old phones like an iPhone 3 that would not be suitable to sell on, as it would not longer be able to update. Just need somewhere to send them to that is basically for scrap, not stuff suitable for resale.

They can go to the dump where they go into a small electricals container and are then broken up for recycling.

Thank you. looking at this though, I think they are looking at phones that may be suitable for them to sell on. I have old phones like an iPhone 3 that would not be suitable to sell on, as it would not longer be able to update. Just need somewhere to send them to that is basically for scrap, not stuff suitable for resale.

You can donate mobile phones by post to the British Heart Foundation.

www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/post-your-donations

No, none of them do here, we’ve got a small Tesco & coop