Battery and vape recycling plea after bin waste fire

25 Oct 2024

Residents are being encouraged to dispose of their used batteries and vapes safely after a fire at the Bury St Edmunds waste transfer station.

West Suffolk Council believe the fire was sparked by a battery or vape which was amongst general household waste that had been collected.

Two fire engines attended the incident, with firefighters at the scene ensuring that the fire had been completely extinguished. 

Cllr David Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council, said: “We have seen an increase in fires involving batteries and vapes in refuse lorries over recent months. Batteries and vapes are extremely hazardous when not disposed of properly. When they are thrown in household rubbish, they pose a potential risk to workers, nearby residents and can result in significant damage to bin lorries and equipment. We are fortunate that nobody was injured in this particular incident. We urge residents to take extra care and use designated recycling points or collection schemes to dispose of used batteries and vapes safely.”

Research from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs estimates that nearly five million single-use vapes are thrown away every week, equating to the lithium batteries of 5,000 electric vehicles each year. The Government has recently laid legislation before Parliament to restrict the sale and supply of single-use vapes in England from 1 June 2025.

Batteries can easily be recycled at any Suffolk Recycling Centre or by placing them in battery recycling containers provided by selected retailers and supermarkets.

Retailers also have a responsibility to take back the used vapes that they sell.

For more information on safe battery disposal or to find the nearest recycling location, visit: Suffolk Recycling - What to do with? (A–Z)

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