Hidden fire hazard in household waste bins prompts safety warning
/The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility is urging residents never to put batteries or gas canisters in household residual waste bins following a rise in fires nationally caused by incorrectly disposed batteries.
Incorrect disposal of batteries in household residual waste creates significant environmental, health and safety risks. Batteries can become damaged during collection, transport or processing, and lithium-ion batteries - commonly found in vapes, mobile phones, laptops, power tools, toys and other rechargeable devices - can ignite if crushed. Even smaller household batteries, including AA and AAA batteries, can also pose a fire risk if disposed of incorrectly.
Gas canisters also present a serious hazard if placed in household bins. Even when they appear empty, they often contain residual gas, which can ignite or explode if punctured or crushed during the waste handling process, creating significant risks for staff either collecting your waste or working at waste and recycling facilities.
Melanie De La Torre Zamora, Community Relationship Manager at Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility, said: “A simple change in how we dispose of batteries and gas canisters can make a huge difference. Taking these items to the correct recycling or disposal point helps prevent fires, protects collection crews and recycling staff, and ensures valuable materials are recycled safely.”
To help reduce the risk of fires, people are encouraged to:
· Put used household batteries aside and recycle them at a designated battery collection point. Find your nearest location using Gloucestershire County Council's Waste Wizard.
· Take electrical items and gas canisters to a local Household Recycling Centre, where dedicated recycling points are available.
· Return gas canisters to the retailer where appropriate.
· Never place batteries, small electrical items or gas canisters in household rubbish
· Follow your local district council instructions on whether batteries can be recycled at the kerbside.
Batteries, electrical items and gas canisters can be taken to any of Gloucestershire's Household Recycling Centres, located at:
· Hempsted, Gloucester (under refurbishment reopening Nov 26)
· Wingmoor Farm, Bishop's Cleeve
· Pyke Quarry, Horsley
· Oak Quarry, Coleford
· Fosse Cross, Cirencester
For more information on recycling batteries, small electrical items and gas canisters, or to find your nearest recycling point, visit: https://www.gloucestershirerecycles.com/ or https://www.gloucestershirerecycles.com/waste-wizard/ or https://www.gloucestershirerecycles.com/household-recycling-centres-hrcs/
