Warwickshire County Council Warns of Dangers of Incorrect Disposal of Hazardous Items

Strategic Insights -

The prompt actions of staff at Warwickshire's Hunter's Lane household waste recycling centre on Saturday 19 July averted a potentially major fire, triggered by a bag of lithium-ion batteries that had been mistakenly disposed of in a black bag and then ignited upon compaction. Thankfully, the fire was contained and limited to a small burn hole in a mattress, thanks to the quick thinking of the centre's staff. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper disposal of hazardous items, including batteries, vapes, and waste electricals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Warwickshire County Council's Waste Recycling Team highlighted the importance of proper disposal of hazardous items, including batteries, vapes, and waste electricals, following a small fire at the Hunter's Lane household waste recycling centre.
  • The fire was triggered by a bag of lithium-ion batteries that had been incorrectly disposed of in a black bag and then ignited upon compaction.
  • Staff at the centre quickly evacuated the site, including the AGE UK Reuse Shop, and carefully removed the burning batteries from the container.
  • The Council has advised residents to use dedicated facilities at Household Waste Recycling Centres or designated collection points for disposing of hazardous items.
  • The Council has listed specific items that should not be put in kerbside bins, including vapes, batteries, waste electricals, and hot ash, cinders, or coals until they are cold.
  • Councillor Darren Cheshire, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture, has urged residents to understand the correct way to dispose of hazardous items to prevent future fires and ensure the safety of recycling centre staff and the wider community.

Statistics:

  • The fire at the Hunter's Lane centre was contained and limited to a small burn hole in a mattress.
  • The correct way to dispose of vapes is in a dedicated container at Household Waste Recycling Centres or by returning them to the vendor.
  • The correct way to dispose of batteries is in a dedicated container at Household Waste Recycling Centres or by placing them in a dedicated container at larger supermarkets and electrical retailers.
  • The correct way to dispose of waste electricals is in a dedicated container at Household Waste Recycling Centres or by returning them to the electrical retailer.
  • The Council has a dedicated webpage (www.warwickshire.gov.uk/whereitgoes) where residents can find out where their recycling goes and the types of products it is remade into.

Sources:

  • Warwickshire County Council news release: Warwickshire County Council's Waste Recycling Team has paid tribute to the prompt actions of staff, following a small fire over the weekend triggered by incorrectly disposed of batteries.
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warwickshire_recycles/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warwickshirerecycles
  • Warwickshire County Council website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hwrc
  • Sustainable Warwickshire: https://www.sustainablewarwickshire.co.uk/