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

[Pavementworrier]

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.

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

No but you take them to the tip so they can be disposed of properly.

The minerals used in mobile phones are rare and finite, we really do need to recycle them. This is more important than the small risk of your data going missing

Why didn't you recycle them?🤔

F FS! At least make an effort to recycle them!

Please don’t throw old lithium batteries in the bin. It is extremely dangerous for the bin men and can cause a fire. They can and should be taken to a recycling centre.

Did you smash them up for the purpose of disposing of them?

THiS

but also the batteries are a fire hazard in the bin - they get damaged in the bin lorry & may then cause a fire.

Yabu. They should have been recycled.
If you were really paranoid you could have bashed them with a hammer. The metals could still have been extracted.

That s completely irresponsible. I hope you re not my friend. Do you put used batteries in the bin too?
of all the things that s stupid i think you getfirst prize.

fish them out and recycle them properly please.

Uhhh are we not supposed to put batteries in the bin?

It's too late to fish anything out even if I were inclined to do so

What is going to happen now??

I just don't believe most people recycle this stuff

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

Uhhh are we not supposed to put batteries in the bin?

Are you joking, even most small children know this! They are hazardous materials and need to be recycled safely. Recycling points in every medium and large supermarket

Surely your answers to this thread prove the opposite? It's not a new thing.

If they find batteries when they collect your bins and it's obvious they came from your bins then you can be fined.

Batteries can catch fire/explode if crushed in the bin lorry machinery - it’s really dangerous! If it’s old mobile phones take them into work and see if your IT team will chuck them in their waste electronics bin - these get collected by specialist contractors and recycled or disposed of correctly

It’s dangerous to put batteries in the bin. https://www.recyclenow.com/how-to-recycle/never-recycle

Bin lorries have caught fire before now because of batteries thrown out with the household waste.

No, I do not throw batteries in the bin, I recycle them properly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxpxz4x118o

No you re not. Thats why supermarkets and pharmacies have boxes to put your used batteries in them. Also you can and should bring them to recycling centre to be disposed of responsibly.

dont you know whats inside batteries? Do you not want to educate yourself? How stupid can one be?

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.

I do recycle batteries and phones. Probably the only thing I’m really bothered about for recycling, mainly because I have a fireman friend and he told me nowadays a large proportion of fires are caused by batteries, and it’s the main reason behind a lot of scrapyard fires.

Well if the bin lorry catches fire you can mull it over.

Can you really not fish them out?

Well I had zero idea and I've binned a fair few over the years

Oh dear i hope you re joking if not, then wow!

😱 I thought everyone knew not to bin batteries in the same way that you don’t flush nappies or sanitary towels/tampons.
blimey!
We just have a small box by the front door near the keys where any old batteries go and every now and then we drop them at the battery drop off box in the local shop.
bloody hell op!