A fire at the Biffa Materials Recovery Facility in Westgate on July 1, suspected to have been caused by lithium vape batteries in a blue recycling bag, was brought under control in time. A fire also broke out at the site in January, requiring 60 firefighters to attend. South Staffordshire Council and Biffa are reminding people not to put vapes, batteries, etc., in general waste or recycling containers, but to place them separately or at dedicated recycling points.
Core watch.
- Fire at Westgate recycling facility suspected to be caused by vape lithium batteries, after a similar fire at the site in January.
- The UK is reminding people not to put vapes, batteries, etc., in their regular trash or recycling containers.
- Such items should be placed separately next to gray garbage cans or dropped off at dedicated recycling points.
British recycling station fire stems from vape lithium batteries
According to a July 8 Express&Star report, on July 1, a fire broke out at the Biffa Materials Recycling Facility in Westgate, South Staffordshire, U.K., suspected to be caused by lithium batteries for vapes that had been mistakenly dropped into a blue recycling bag.
Although the fire was quickly brought under control by the on-site system, 60 firefighters were used for a similar incident in January this year. In response, South Staffordshire Council and Biffa are urging residents to never put vapes, batteries, or rechargeable items containing batteries into regular trash or recycling bags.
The correct way to dispose of them includes:
Placing battery-containing items in a shopping bag next to the grey bin, which will be collected separately by the refuse collector on collection day;
Or placing them in special recycling bins set up at household recycling centers or supermarkets.
Councillor Mike Davies stressed that while most residents dispose of them properly, everyone should follow strict protocols for their own and public safety.
