Over 70 Fires at Waste Plant Spark Urgent Battery Disposal Warning

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is issuing a stark warning about the "catastrophic impact" of improperly discarded batteries after revealing that over 70 fires have erupted at the county's waste processing plant near Grantham in 2024 alone. These blazes, primarily caused by electronics and batteries disposed of in general waste, are posing a significant danger and proving difficult to extinguish.

Area Manager Dan Moss emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "It can have devastating effects. Once the batteries catch fire, they're very difficult to extinguish." He explained that lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in a wide range of everyday items, often ignite when crushed during the general waste recycling process.

Moss highlighted disposable vapes as a primary culprit behind these fires. "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," he added.

Beyond vapes, lithium-ion batteries are prevalent in numerous other products, including children's toys, e-scooters, and electric cars. The fire service is urging the public to be extremely vigilant when disposing of any item containing these powerful batteries.

Instead of tossing them into general household waste, residents are strongly advised to recycle items containing lithium-ion batteries at designated household waste recycling centres or supermarket drop-off points. Proper disposal is crucial to prevent further dangerous incidents and protect waste processing facilities and their workers.