AS OF this week it is now easier than ever to safely dispose of batteries and small electrical items such as irons, hairdryers and alarm clocks.

Herefordshire Council’s bin collection crews will collect batteries and small items of waste electrical and electronic equipment as they do their usual rounds.

Electrical items and batteries should never be put into household rubbish as they can cause contamination or a fire.

The new service is easy and convenient to use. Simply remove any batteries from your broken small electrical item and place it on top of your bin. Likewise put batteries in a plastic bag also on top of the bin, on either recycling or waste collection day.

Crew operatives will store these items in a separate cage on the vehicle.