Residents are being urged to dispose of vapes properly following two fires in Malvern Hills District Council’s (MHDC) bin lorries.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service attended the fire which recently occurred inside the vehicle whilst collecting recycling at Doppler Road Malvern.
Both incidents were possibly caused by the improper disposal of vapes, which contain lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can become damaged during the collection and sorting process, leading to a risk of overheating, igniting, and causing a fire.
Bin lorry fires can pose a significant danger to refuse collection staff, the public and can also cause damage to collection vehicles. Unfortunately, the lorries load of waste is then sent for disposal rather than recycling.
Residents are being urged to stop placing vapes and other small electrical items in their green recycling and general waste bins, and reminded to take these items, including old batteries, to their local Household Recycling Centre.
Vapes can also be returned to the shop that they bought them from.
Cllr Jeremy Owenson, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Malvern Hills District Council said:“The batteries found in vapes, old phones, and other small electronics can be extremely dangerous if not disposed of correctly. Nationally there has been a concerning increase in fires in bin lorries and at recycling plants, and we need the public’s help to prevent further incidents.
“A small electrical item can start a fire that could endanger lives and halt essential waste services, as well as rendering a whole load of recycling unable to be re-processed, as the only way to halt these types of fires is to eject the entire load onto the road and extinguish the fire”.
