Vape disposal warning after bin lorry fires

Malvern Hills District Council said a fire in one of its waste vehicles meant the whole load was dumped on the street

Residents are being urged to properly dispose of vapes after two fires in bin lorries belonging to Malvern Hills District Council.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Service attended the most recent blaze, which the authority said was inside a waste vehicle collecting recycling on Doppler Road.

The council said both incidents were possibly the result of vapes, with lithium-ion batteries inside, not being disposed of properly.

It encouraged people to take vapes and other small electrical items to household recycling centres instead of putting them in green recycling and general waste bins.

Malvern Hills District Council added that the most recent fire had caused damage to the vehicle and endangered the crew, as well as ruining the entire load of recycling.

The load had to be dumped on the road and sent for disposal instead.

"The batteries found in vapes, old phones, and other small electronics can be extremely dangerous if not disposed of correctly," said councillor Jeremy Owenson, the council's portfolio holder for environment.

"Nationally there has been a concerning increase in fires in bin lorries and at recycling plants, and we need the public's help to prevent further incidents.

"A small electrical item can start a fire that could endanger lives and halt essential waste services, as well as rendering a whole load of recycling unable to be re-processed, as the only way to halt these types of fires is to eject the entire load on to the road and extinguish the fire."