Batteries & small hazardous waste
Bin: Hazardous waste box (red)A fire risk in the truck — always keep it separate.
Lithium batteries are the leading cause of fires in refuse trucks and sorting plants. Batteries, spray cans, paint and lamps therefore always belong in the hazardous waste box — never in residual waste.
This belongs in it
- Batteries and battery packs, also from devices
- Power banks and laptop batteries
- Energy-saving lamps, LED and fluorescent tubes
- Paint, glue, varnish and solvents
- Spray cans with contents left
- Toner and ink cartridges
This does not belong in it
- Empty, fully dried paint tins (metal)
- Devices with the battery still in — remove it first
- Medical waste and needles (separate route)
What happens to it?
- 1. Hazardous box on site
Small hazardous waste goes into a closed, marked box. Tape the terminals of lithium batteries.
- 2. Registration
Hazardous waste is transported with a consignment note under a VIHB permit.
- 3. Sorting by substance
At the processor the waste is separated per substance category.
- 4. Recovery
Batteries yield cobalt, nickel, lithium and steel; paint and solvents are processed under controlled conditions.
Where is it processed?
Processed by a licensed hazardous waste processor; transported under a NIWO/VIHB permit.
This is what it becomes
Good to know
Rules and legislation
Batteries and battery packs appear in the Circular Materials Plan among the streams that must always be kept separate. Hazardous waste may also only be transported by a registered and licensed carrier, accompanied by a consignment note.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page were checked against the following sources.
- Gescheiden houden van bedrijfsafval en gevaarlijk afvalRijkswaterstaat — Circulair Materialenplan
- Dossier afvalbrandenNVRD
- 'Jaarlijks tientallen branden in vuilniswagens door batterijen en accu's'NOS
Checked on 18 August 2026