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Our lifestyles increasingly dependent on batteries. These ubiquitous sources of energy everything from our cars and smartphones, to watches, remote controls and many other devices. However, these essential sources of power can hazardous. A report from the Environmental Services Association (ESA) in the U.K. that the incorrect disposal of batteries around 700 fires in Britain each year. This fire services $195 million. The financial loss considerably higher for those whose property has down. A leading fire expert said: "These fires can be challenging for fire services to with....Everyone can do their bit...by ensuring they of batteries correctly."

The biggest culprits for fires are lithium-ion batteries. These can and start fires if they are crushed or they get wet. An ESA spokesperson told the BBC that, "more and more people are devices containing these batteries in with household waste". He said: "That a real problem because they have a tendency - when damaged - to explode or ....They're likely to be crushed, compacted, smashed or they might wet. He added: "That can cause them to . And of course, they're then in the presence of other flammable material like plastic, paper and card and that can to quite big fires." The ESA people to mindful of the potential hazards of batteries.