‘Don’t be to blame, don’t start the flame - dispose of dangerous waste safely’ is the message Newham Council is issuing to their residents to ensure fires are prevented and lives are protected.
Cllr Sarah Ruiz highlights the urgency of safely disposing of dangerous materials such as vapes, electrical items, batteries, gas canisters and bottles.
Waste-related incidents are on the rise across the UK, with over 1,200 battery-related fires reported last year.
Newham Council is raising awareness about the hazards of incorrectly disposing of items such as vapes, electrical items, batteries, gas canisters and bottles, following footage of an explosion that endangered the life of one of the Council’s refuse crew operatives.
Certain items pose a serious risk when thrown into regular household waste or recycling bins, with the potential for fires, explosions, and life-threatening injuries to refuse operatives and passersby. The recent footage shows the moment an empty gas bottle, which had been disposed of in a household waste bin, ignited in a waste collection vehicle, leading to an explosion that injured a crew member, highlighting the serious risks posed by dangerous items when disposed of incorrectly.
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education, said:
"The recent explosion in one of our waste collection vehicles, which resulted in a member of our crew being rushed to the hospital with dizziness and hearing issues, is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by improperly disposed dangerous items. We are grateful that our staff member is now recovering, but this incident could have been much worse.
“We all need to be aware that items like vapes, electrical items, batteries, gas canisters and bottles do not belong in household waste or recycling bins. These items can cause fires, explosions, serious injuries, putting both our waste management teams and the wider community at risk.
“I urge everyone to be proactive and responsible, by taking these dangerous items to appropriate recycling locations. We need to work together to responsibly dispose of dangerous waste safely.”
Items that need to be safely disposed of include:
Vapes: Lithium-ion batteries in vapes can ignite when crushed, causing fires in collection vehicles and recycling facilities.
Electrical Items: Devices with batteries or plugs can explode or catch fire, endangering workers at multiple points in the waste management process.
Batteries: Even small batteries can cause fires when disposed of in general waste, with over 1,200 battery-related fires reported in the UK last year.
Gas Bottles: Nitrogen oxide canisters and other gas bottles, even when empty, can cause explosions when crushed, posing a significant threat to waste workers and infrastructure.
Residents are being encouraged to visit newham.gov.uk/dangerouswaste for information about how to safely dispose each of these items, to find their local recycling points and to do their bit to ensure that fires and explosions are prevented.
Later this year, the Council will also be adding new mini-recycling collection points across the borough for the safe disposal of smaller electrical items including clocks, remote controls, games consoles and kettles.
For more information on how to dispose of dangerous waste visit newham.gov.uk/dangerouswaste.
