Battery warning after 70 fires at waste plant

Dan Moss of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has urged people to be vigilant when throwing away used batteries

Disposing of batteries in general waste can have a "catastrophic impact", Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said.

More than 70 fires were started in 2024 by discarded electronics and batteries at the county's waste processing plant near Grantham, according to the service.

It urged people to recycle items containing lithium ion batteries at household waste recycling centres or supermarket drop-off points.

Area manager Dan Moss said: "It can have devastating effects. Once the batteries catch fire, they're very difficult to extinguish."

Fire crews were called to tackle a bin lorry blaze sparked by a discarded battery in Ingoldsby in March 2023

Mr Moss said the batteries often catch fire when they are crushed as part of the general waste recycling process.

He said the main causes of the fires were disposable vapes which contain lithium ion batteries.

"If the disposable vapes are then in around other combustible items, which they would be if they were thrown in the general waste, the batteries will catch fire and then very quickly ignite other items around them," Mr Moss said.

Litium ion batteries can be found in lots of other items including children's toys, e-scooters and electric cars, he said.

Mr Moss urged people to be vigilant when disposing of them.

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