RESIDENTS across the district are being reminded not to put hot ashes or warm disposable barbecues in their black or green bins following a serious fire in a Wychavon collection vehicle.
A crew had to abandon their collection round last week to dump a load of burning recycling onto the road so the flames could be tackled by fire officers.
The council has advised that hot ashes or warm disposable BBQs are not the only items that pose a fire risk in green recycling or black rubbish bins.
Batteries, vapes, gas cylinders and electrical items can also catch fire, explode or release hazardous materials when they are crushed inside collection vehicles or processed at recycling facilities.
Only one wrongly placed item can put staff, vehicles, facilities and local services at risk, a spokesperson said.
Fires in bin lorries and at recycling sites can also damage valuable recyclable materials and cause disruption for residents.
Residents are being advised to follow the advice below when disposing of the items:
Batteries: Batteries can be put out on the same day as black rubbish bins and will be collected by the crews for recycling. They need to be in a clear bag on top of the bin. There are also battery recycling points at supermarkets, shops or household recycling centres. Where possible, remove batteries from items before recycling them separately.
Electrical items: Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be placed on the black rubbish bin and will be collected by the crews. There are also other ways including returned through retailer take-back schemes, donated if reusable, or taken to a household recycling centre.
Vapes: These should be put out in the same bag as batteries or taken to retailers that sell them. All household recycling centre in Worcestershire also have vape recycling points.
Disposable barbecues: When completely cool they should be put in the black rubbish bin, not recycling bins.
Gas cylinders and canisters: Return them to the supplier where possible or take them to a household recycling centre that accepts them. These should not be placed in household waste or recycling bins because they can explode if crushed.
Coun Emma Stokes, Wychavon’s executive board member for resources, investment and innovation, said: “We are asking residents to be more aware of how they dispose of batteries, electrical items, disposable barbecues and gas cylinders.
“These items may look harmless, but if they are put in the bin, they can create a real danger for our crews and the people working at recycling facilities.
“Please take a moment to check where these items should go and use the correct disposal route.
“Doing the right thing helps protect staff, vehicles, local services and the wider community.”
To help reinforce the message, Wychavon has joined forces with Material Focus to raise awareness of the fire risk caused by batteries and electrical items being hidden in household rubbish and recycling.
Figures show fires involving batteries and small electrical items have risen by over 70 per cent in recent years with the impact on waste collection services and the environment becoming increasingly problematic.
Some of Wychavon’s recycling trucks are now decorated with the HypnoCat campaign, urging residents to keep many everyday products, including mobile phones, toys, power tools, vapes, toothbrushes and chargers out of bins and dispose of them safely.
Visit: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk for more information on where to recycle batteries and electrical items.
Visit: www.letswasteless.com for the location of the household recycling centres.
See www.wychavon.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling to find out about the council’s enhanced recycling service.
