Preventing waste fires
Veolia, West Berkshire Council’s recycling and waste collection and treatment partner, is launching a campaign to highlight the importance of safely disposing of batteries, vapes, small electricals and gas canisters.
> When these items end up in collection vehicles and treatment facilities, they can cause fires that put people at risk.
> Veolia sees an average of over one fire every day across its UK operations.
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Preventable waste fires occur across the country in Refuse Collection Vehicles in residential areas and in waste management facilities, due to residents putting dangerous items in their recycling or rubbish bins and on-street litter bins.
To help tackle this, Veolia and West Berkshire Council are working to raise awareness about the dangers of putting hazardous
items in household bins. Residents will begin to see messaging on the side of collection vehicles and across social media reminding them to recycle items safely.
Batteries, electrical goods, vapes and gas canisters can catch fire or explode if damaged.
This puts both collection crews and the team members at recycling and waste sorting and processing facilities at risk of burns, chemical exposure and smoke inhalation – injuries that can be life-changing. It also causes damage to facilities which sort and separate recycling and treat waste.
Residents are asked to follow this advice when disposing of a dangerous item:
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Used vapes should be taken back to retailers, never placed in household recycling or rubbish bins or in on-street litter bins.
They can also be taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s) or to dedicated collection points, such as those found in supermarkets.
Please note that residents looking to visit their local HWRC need to book in advance at westberks.gov.uk/recyclingcentres
Electrical items – items with batteries, plugs, cables, or hidden batteries such as
those found in children’s toys and electrical toothbrushes – can be recycled but they
must be handled safely at dedicated facilities. Residents can find local recycling
points at recyclenow.com/recycling-locator
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Most residents can now recycle the following household batteries at the kerbside: D,
C, AA. AAA, AAAA (1.5V), A23 (12V) PP3 (9V). CR2032 (3V) and LR44 (1.5V).
To recycle them, place used batteries in a sealed, clear plastic bag and placed on top of the black wheelie bin on your scheduled collection day.
The batteries will be collected separately by the crew.
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Gas bottles and nitrous oxide (N2O) canisters need to be handled safely during disposal.
Gas bottles and canisters are accepted at Newtown Road HWRC, but are not accepted at Padworth HWRC.
David Matthews, General Manager, Veolia, said: “Keeping everyone safe whilst we deliver essential recycling and waste management services is our top priority.
By making small changes to how we dispose of hazardous items, we can all help prevent waste fires, to protect both Veolia’s crews and the general public.”
Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Highways at
West Berkshire Council, said: “We’ve already seen incidents here in West Berkshire caused by batteries and other hazardous items being put in household bins, so this is an important safety message. By taking a little extra care when disposing of batteries, vapes, electricals and gas canisters, we can all help reduce the risk of fires and keep our collection crews, waste-site staff and communities safe.”
Councillor Owen Jeffery, Community Safety Champion on Royal Berkshire Fire
Authority said: “We are seeing an increasing number of serious fires linked to the incorrect disposal of batteries, electrical items and lithium-ion batteries.
These fires are often especially difficult for firefighters to tackle because they can spread extraordinarily rapidly (within seconds), reignite without warning and present additional hazards such as explosions and chemical exposure.
We want residents to understand the exceptional risks presented by lithium-ion batteries and dispose of them safely.
Taking a few moments to recycle them correctly can make a significant difference in preventing fires and protecting lives.”
More information about recycling can be found on West Berkshire Council’s website at westberks.gov.uk/rubbishandrecycling
Photo credit: Veolia UK.
