Lithium battery warning after Gloucestershire bin lorry false alarm

Lithium-ion batteries are found in small rechargeable electronics such as toothbrushes, cameras, mobile phones and vapes

People have been warned not to throw away items containing lithium-ion batteries after a bin lorry almost caught fire.

The warning comes after Gloucestershire Fire Service was called to a false alarm on 30 August at Broadway Lane, South Cerney.

Lithium-ion batteries have been found to cause hundreds of waste fires.

Cotswold District Council has warned against the unsafe disposal of old batteries.

The authority is urging people to recycle old batteries at either shops with a battery bank or a recycling centre.

Councillor Mike Evemy, cabinet member with responsibility for waste and recycling at Cotswold District Council, praised the collection crew for "taking immediate action" in raising the alarm.

He said lithium batteries can be found in small rechargeable items such as toothbrushes, cameras and mobile phones.

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Mr Evemy said while most people only throw these items away every few years, the batteries are also used in single-use vapes.

"Disposable vapes are a well-known hazard due to the vast numbers out there and their potential to ignite or explode if damaged by compacting equipment on the refuse lorries," said Mr Evemy.

Lithium-ion batteries

According to research by campaign group Materials Focus, more than 700 waste-related fires are responded to each year by the emergency services due to the unsafe disposal of batteries, many of which are hidden inside electrical and electronic equipment.

They are also alleged to be unstable and prone to bursting into flames if they are crushed.

According to the Local Government Association (LGA), 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away each week.

Residents can also recycle their old electrical and electronic items using the council's fortnightly recycling service by putting them inside an old carrier bag, or smaller, and placing this inside either of their black kerbside recycling boxes ready for crews to collect.