Residents are being urged to safely dispose of hidden batteries found in everyday household items following a string of dangerous refuse vehicle fires over the last year.
Dangerous fires are breaking out inside refuse vehicles due to hidden batteries being incorrectly discarded in household waste.
Six bin wagon blazes have ignited over the last year across the region. The most recent fire is believed to have been caused by a single battery left inside a discarded set of toy building bricks.
Everyday household items are posing a growing risk when placed into regular bins. Hidden batteries can easily ignite and cause severe fires in refuse vehicles, recycling facilities, and waste transfer sites when they are crushed, punctured, or damaged during the mechanical collection process.
Lithium-ion batteries are proving to be particularly hazardous for waste management crews. These powerful batteries are increasingly found in a wide range of common household products, including toys, electronic devices, vapes, and electric toothbrushes.
Residents are now being urgently reminded to carefully check for and remove batteries from gadgets, toys, and other electrical items before correctly disposing of them.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment, Councillor Richard Foster, said:
"This incident serves as a timely reminder that batteries should never be placed in household waste or recycling bins.
"Many people may not realise that items such as toys can contain batteries. Taking a few moments to remove and recycle them correctly can help to prevent fires, protect our crews and keep communities safe.
"This incident could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for our quick-thinking crew. I’d like to thank them, and of course North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, for acting so professionally and swiftly in tackling this fire."
Discarded power sources can be recycled completely free of charge at designated collection points. These safe drop-off locations include local Household Waste Recycling Centres and many supermarkets.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service watch manager, Sy Wray, said:
"Unsafe disposal of batteries, in particular lithium-ion type batteries commonly used for vaping equipment, are a real emerging concern for our service and services across the country.
"If they are placed in regular household waste, mechanical damage alone can cause them to ignite and cause serious fires, putting lives and property at risk.
"Please check for guidance around safe and responsible disposal of batteries and battery powered items."
Further information about safely recycling batteries, alongside a tool to find the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre, can be found on the North Yorkshire Council website.
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