West Sussex County Council reported 40 fires linked to batteries and electrical items from the start of 2026 to the statement date. Its scope covers the Ford MRF, waste collection vehicles and the county’s recycling centres.
How should the figure be read?
It is not a count of all UK battery fires or a September-only total. The category includes batteries and electrical items; we do not relabel it as confirmed lithium-ion battery fires.
Comparison limits
We do not add this figure to our selected incident count. Comparisons with another region require matching periods, facilities and classifications.
Use in a business
An internal register should distinguish incident location, waste type and the evidence behind a cause finding. This helps prevent unlike categories being compared under a single heading.