Council to take used vapes with rubbish collections

The new service launches across Peterborough from 5 March

After several bin lorry fires, a new service has been launched to collect residents’ used batteries and disposable vapes, a council said.

The service, started by Peterborough City Council and Aragon Direct Services, followed a successful trial to help improve waste safety and sustainability.

From Tuesday, used batteries and vapes can be put in clear plastic bags and left out for collection on top of bin lids or food caddies.

Last year, 10 refuse vehicle fires were reported across Peterborough due to batteries and vapes being incorrectly discarded in standard waste collections, the authority said.

Councillor Gavin Elsey, cabinet member for infrastructure, environment and climate change, said: “We are always looking at ways to enhance our collection services and we also have a public duty to help improve safety and sustainability around the disposal of batteries and disposable vapes.

“I would urge residents to make use of this scheme and give us their general feedback, so we can continue to work to offer collections which meet residents’ needs.”

To dispose of these items, residents have been advised to separate them into two clear plastic bags - one for vapes and one for batteries – and place the bags on top of their green or black bin or food caddy.

The collection team would then place them in a special compartment in their vehicle and take them away to be recycled.

This service can be used to dispose of all everyday household batteries, button batteries, e-cigarettes batteries and disposable vapes.

Laptop battery packs and C batteries cannot be disposed of using this method and the council said they should be taken to the Household Recycling Centre.