UK Battery Fire Tracker: Vape and Battery Fires in the Waste System

Waste crews spotted a fire in their lorry while collecting on Crooked Well and Llewellin Road in Hereford, reported on 1 July 2026. The fire was extinguished by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service with no injuries. The council said the fire was caused by a lithium battery incorrectly disposed of in household waste, and warned of serious risks from batteries and vapes in bins.

Distinct from the two Hereford bin lorry fires the council attributed to vapes in June 2025.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire at a recycling facility on Everite Road in Widnes on 22 June 2026 was declared a major incident, with 450 tonnes of baled cardboard burning, more than 20 fire engines attending from three counties, and residents told to stay indoors. On 29 June Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was believed to have been caused by a damaged lithium-ion battery, most likely from a disposable vape wrongly placed in general waste or recycling. The service urged households and businesses to segregate batteries.

Declared a major incident; 450 tonnes of cardboard destroyed; UKHSA stay-indoors advice.

Reported by: BBC News · BBC News · letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was called at about 17:40 on 18 June 2026 to a fire involving around 50 tonnes of shredded waste at a recycling site in Costessey, near Norwich. At its height 50 firefighters and eight appliances tackled the blaze, with one crew still there the following morning. The fire service said a lithium-ion battery was the most likely cause.

Norwich City Council warned of collection delays; site operator issued a battery disposal warning.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A refuse lorry began billowing smoke on its rounds in Dereham shortly after 08:00 on 2 June 2026. The crew drove it to a safe spot on Old Hall Road and waste was tipped out for firefighters to extinguish. The council said the fire was believed to have been caused by a dumped battery-powered vacuum cleaner.

Norfolk kerbside battery and electrical collections were already suspended following the April fire at a Thetford recycling plant.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A skip fire broke out at the Warminster household recycling centre on Furnax Lane on 1 June 2026, a year to the day since the single use vape ban came into force. Crews from Warminster and Westbury attended for over an hour and residents were told to shut windows as smoke covered the Bath Road area. The council said it believed the fire was caused by a small battery or vape.

Thick smoke over the surrounding area; fire on the ban's first anniversary.

Reported by: Wiltshire Gazette & Herald Link to this incident

Refuse workers on a round in Hambleton discovered improperly discarded batteries had caught fire and removed them from the hopper after an alert on Coniston Road. Fire crews spent about 30 minutes at the scene. No injuries were reported.

Crew removed the burning batteries from the hopper; fire service on scene about 30 minutes.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

About six tonnes of waste had to be tipped onto Stonebridge Road in St Ann's, Nottingham, after a fire took hold in the back of a bin lorry on 22 May 2026. The council said it was later found to have been caused by a solar-powered garden light wrongly placed in a recycling bin. It was the city council waste department's first bin lorry fire of 2026.

Around six tonnes of waste dumped on the road.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire broke out at around 12:33 on 19 May 2026 at a recycling depot on Mannings Heath Road in Poole, sending large smoke plumes across the industrial estate. Nine fire crews attended along with an aerial ladder platform, and no casualties were reported. The site operator said the suspected cause was a damaged lithium-ion battery in non-hazardous waste stored at the facility.

Road closed until early evening; crews remained overnight to prevent reignition.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A waste collection crew in Somerset noticed smoke coming from the rear of their vehicle on 9 May 2026. After calling the emergency services they tipped the burning load onto the roadside, where it was extinguished and cleared. The council said the likely cause was an undetected battery.

Precise location in Somerset not stated; coordinates are for Taunton, the county town.

Reported by: Somerset Council · BBC News Link to this incident

A fire started in a Southampton bin lorry when a discarded lithium-ion battery in the load ignited. Three tonnes of household waste had to be emptied onto the street so that fire crews could extinguish it. The fire service listed the incident in a record month of lithium-ion battery fires across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Part of a record monthly spike in li-ion incidents per HIWFRS; a council social post suggests the date may have been 3 June 2026.

Reported by: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service · BBC News Link to this incident

A major fire broke out at an electrical waste recycling warehouse on Brunel Way, Thetford shortly after 19:00 on 16 April 2026. At its height 27 fire appliances from Norfolk and Suffolk attended, and the fire service said the blaze mostly involved lithium-ion batteries. The incident forced Norfolk County Council to suspend acceptance of electrical waste and batteries at all 19 county recycling centres.

Warehouse heavily damaged; county-wide suspension of electrical and battery drop-off at recycling centres.

Reported by: BBC News · Thetford & Brandon Times · letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A fire broke out in the early hours of 10 April 2026 at a waste management and recycling business on the Aldershot Road near Fairlands, between Guildford and Normandy. Six Surrey Fire and Rescue Service crews and up to 30 firefighters tackled the blaze, with parts of the road closed in both directions. The fire service confirmed the cause was a lithium-ion battery in the waste.

Aldershot Road closed in both directions.

Reported by: The Guildford Dragon · Surrey Live Link to this incident

A waste collection lorry caught fire in Cobham on 10 April 2026 after batteries from a household rubbish bin were crushed when tipped into the truck. The batteries ignited and rapidly burned through the waste in the back of the vehicle. The fire was put out and nobody was injured.

One of a series of battery-related bin fires in Surrey in April 2026.

Reported by: Surrey Live Link to this incident

Fire crews were called to a recycling factory on Blackburn Road in Coventry at about 11:30 on 5 April 2026, with the blaze involving a large quantity of recycled material. The site owner said a vape or lithium battery in the recycling stream may have caused it, and damage was limited to a corner of the roof. About 30 firefighters attended and no machinery was damaged.

Site expected to reopen within days.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire broke out in a skip at the Taunton materials recycling facility on 30 March 2026. Site staff used a forklift truck to move the burning skip into the open so fire crews could deal with it safely. The council said the likely cause was an undetected battery in the waste.

Reported by: Somerset Council · BBC News Link to this incident

Emergency services were called to a bin lorry fire on Lister Road in Atherstone on 20 March 2026, and crews spent about two hours containing and extinguishing it. The council linked the fire to incorrectly disposed batteries and electrical items and said it was the third bin lorry fire in the district in four months. No injuries were reported.

Council said it costs about 1,000 GBP a week to hire a temporary lorry.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire broke out in the early hours of 17 March 2026 at a recycling unit at Newton Leys, Bletchley, which was storing dry mixed recycling. Six crews from Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire tackled the blaze and nearby residents were advised to keep windows closed. The fire ruined a building costing more than 1 million pounds and some kerbside recycling collections were temporarily suspended.

Building valued at over 1 million pounds ruined; Central Bedfordshire dry mixed recycling collections suspended.

Reported by: BBC News · BBC News Link to this incident

A stack of mixed recycling caught fire at a waste recycling centre on Thames Road in Crayford on the evening of 31 January 2026. Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters attended, using a water relay system, with no injuries. Kent Fire and Rescue Service supported at the scene.

Kent FRS supported LFB at the scene.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

A fire broke out at about 10.30pm on 6 January 2026 at a metal recycling facility on Knowsthorpe Road in the Cross Green area of Leeds. Eight fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended at the height of the incident, with residents advised to keep doors and windows closed. The operator said initial investigations indicated a lithium-ion battery was the cause, with no injuries and minimal structural damage.

Eight engines and an aerial ladder platform; damping down into the following day.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

During an early morning collection round in a rural part of north Warwickshire in January 2026, bin workers found a fire had started in the back of their lorry. The council said a lithium battery dumped in a household's rubbish caused the blaze, which destroyed the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Vehicle written off; replacement estimated at about 250,000 GBP.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

An area of household waste caught fire at a recycling yard on Jenkins Lane in Beckton on the evening of 31 December 2025. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters extinguished the fire and there were no injuries. The Brigade suspected the most probable cause was the failure of a lithium-ion battery.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

An incorrectly disposed of lithium-ion battery exploded after being driven over by a loading vehicle at the Hornsey Street waste transfer station in Islington on 24 December 2025. The site and adjacent reuse and recycling centre were evacuated while the London Fire Brigade tackled the blaze, and large volumes of firefighting water flooded the site. The recycling centre reopened on 27 December and the transfer station the following day.

Equipment damaged; flooding required extensive clean-up; services disrupted over the festive period.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to a dustcart waste fire on St Margarets Road in Westgate-on-Sea at 07:55 on 9 December 2025. Two fire engines attended and crews extinguished waste that remained alight after being ejected from the vehicle. There were no injuries.

Reported by: The Isle of Thanet News Link to this incident

Firefighters were called at about 6.40pm on 2 December 2025 to a large fire in a pile of mixed scrap metal, around 30m by 15m, at a metal recycling site on Station Road, East Tilbury. It was the second fire at the site in six weeks, and the operator said initial investigations again pointed to a lithium-ion battery. No injuries or structural damage were reported.

Crews from five stations; second battery-linked fire at the site in six weeks.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A council waste collection crew noticed smoke coming from the rear of their bin lorry in Wimborne town centre on 1 December 2025. They ejected the contents onto the street to prevent damage to the vehicle and the fire service quickly put out the flames. The council said the fire was quite likely caused by a crushed battery.

Road surface cleaned and swept after the load was ejected.

Reported by: BBC News · Dorset Echo Link to this incident

A fire involving a large amount of scrap metal was reported at about 8pm on 30 October 2025 at a metal recycling site in East Tilbury, Essex. Four fire engines attended and a specialist crane was used to move scrap so hotspots could be tackled. The operator said initial investigations pointed to a lithium-ion battery as the cause.

Residents asked to keep windows closed.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A battery, believed to be from a vape, exploded in the crusher of a council recycling lorry on Belton Lane, Great Gonerby, on 2 October 2025. The crew emptied their near full load into a layby to prevent a serious fire and crews from Grantham and Sleaford doused the smouldering waste. Nobody was injured and the lorry escaped damage, though the load was spoilt.

Full load of recyclables spoilt.

Reported by: BBC News · South Kesteven District Council Link to this incident

A dustcart caught fire at the Echo Square roundabout in Gravesend just before 08:00 on 30 September 2025, forcing the crew to dump the load in the road. Two fire engines extinguished the flames and no one was injured. Damage to the vehicle was minimal and it returned to its round the same morning.

Load dumped outside shops and cleared quickly.

Reported by: KentOnline Link to this incident

Firefighters were called to reports of a smoking recycling lorry at Lancing Business Park on 29 September 2025. Crews extinguished the waste fire and used a thermal imaging camera to check the vehicle. The remains of a battery hidden inside a cardboard box were found among the waste.

Reported by: West Sussex County Council Link to this incident

A refuse collection vehicle caught fire on Knight Street in Macclesfield during bin collections on the morning of 25 September 2025. The fire caused serious damage to the vehicle's hydraulics. The fire service could not confirm the cause, while the council publicly attributed it to a lithium-ion battery.

Vehicle out of action due to hydraulic damage; council cited over 25,000 GBP repair cost.

Reported by: Macclesfield Nub News · Cheshire East Council Link to this incident

A fire broke out on 15 September 2025 in the back of a recycling collection vehicle carrying cardboard near Hillhead Secondary School in Glasgow. The driver borrowed a fire extinguisher from the school janitor while awaiting the fire service. The crews' union said wrongly binned vape and lithium batteries were the likely cause.

One of three Glasgow bin lorry fires in two weeks.

Reported by: STV News Link to this incident

A fire broke out in the back of a Glasgow City Council bin lorry on Chamberlain Road on 7 September 2025, one of three lorry fires in the city in two weeks. The crews' union said vape and lithium batteries thrown into household bins were the likely cause. Staff followed safety procedures, which the council said helped minimise the impact.

One of three Glasgow bin lorry fires in two weeks.

Reported by: STV News Link to this incident

A waste collection lorry carrying paper and cardboard caught fire around 8pm while travelling from a waste processing facility in Wythenshawe towards a paper and card recycling facility in Partington. Firefighters spent five hours extinguishing the blaze and saved the trailer. Nobody was injured.

Crews spent about five hours extinguishing the fire using specialist equipment.

Reported by: Recycle for Greater Manchester Link to this incident

Malvern Hills District Council reported two fires in its waste collection lorries, the most recent on Doppler Road while collecting recycling, in September 2025. The council said both were likely caused by improperly discarded vapes containing lithium-ion batteries. The most recent fire damaged the vehicle and the whole load of recycling had to be tipped on the street and sent for disposal.

Entire recycling load lost.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire started in the back of a Nottingham City Council bin lorry on Roden Street in September 2025. The council said a mobile phone that had been incorrectly discarded was found to be the source. It was one of eight bin lorry fires the council recorded across 2025.

Part of a run of eight Nottingham bin lorry fires in 2025 (up from two in 2024).

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

Firefighters were called to a paper recycling site on Maesbury Road Industrial Estate in Oswestry at 07:36 on 21 August 2025. A bale of compacted paper was smouldering after a lithium battery pack in the paper was damaged during compaction. On-site cameras using image analytics detected the fire early.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

More than 165 firefighters took two days to bring a large fire at a recycling centre off Claylands Avenue in Worksop under control after being called just before 01:00 on 20 August 2025. The fire was ruled accidental, with the service saying vapes, electrical items or batteries were likely among the waste that caused it.

Significant damage; two-day firefighting operation.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire broke out in a container at the Louth household waste recycling centre on 19 July 2025 and had to be tackled by the fire service. Council officers said firefighters later found a bag containing batteries and possibly disposable vapes. The centre was closed for several hours.

Site closed for several hours.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A second fire within six months at a Midlands waste treatment facility was linked by authorities to an exploding vape battery, reported on 9 July 2025. It followed the major vape-linked fire at the same materials recovery facility in January 2025. Local authorities and waste firms warned about the risks of binning batteries and vapes.

Second battery-linked fire at the same site in six months.

Reported by: MRW Link to this incident

Crews were called to Deakin Road in the Chell Heath area of Stoke-on-Trent just after 08:00 on 26 June 2025 after smoke was seen coming from a bin lorry. Waste had been emptied onto the road and firefighters extinguished the blaze, which the service said was sparked by lithium batteries in domestic waste. No injuries were reported.

Reported by: Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Link to this incident

The alarm was raised at about 11:30 on 24 June 2025 when smoke was seen coming from a bin lorry passing through Rufford, Nottinghamshire. Crews from four stations responded and the lorry was badly damaged. The fire service linked the incident to lithium-ion batteries in domestic waste and no injuries were reported.

Lorry severely damaged.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

Herefordshire Council reported in June 2025 that two of its bin lorry fires had been caused by disposable vapes placed in household recycling bins. The council said the fires disrupted waste collection and used up fire service time, and urged residents to place small electrical items on top of bins for its WEEE collection service rather than inside.

Two separate lorry fires reported together.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

Emergency services were called to a large fire on 18 May 2025 at a recycling site on Wilshee Way in Swadlincote, with multiple crews attending. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service later determined that a discarded lithium-ion battery was the most likely cause of the blaze.

Multiple fire crews attended.

Reported by: MRW Link to this incident

The contents of a council bin lorry caught fire at around 08:30 on 12 May 2025 at the corner of Lees Road and Long Furlong Drive in Britwell, Slough. The crew dumped around five tonnes of collected rubbish into the road to stop the fire taking hold of the vehicle. The council said the fire was believed to have been caused by a lithium-ion battery in a disposable vape, the third similar fire in a month.

Third similar bin lorry fire in Slough in a month; five tonnes dumped in the road.

Reported by: Slough Borough Council · BBC News Link to this incident

A bin lorry caught fire on Ash Hill Crescent near Doncaster at around 10:10 on 2 April 2025 and was tackled by firefighters. Crews were called back about 45 minutes later when the waste load reignited, and found seven lithium-ion batteries in the waste, one of which had ignited. The fire service linked it to a battery believed to be from a disposable vape.

Load partially reignited, requiring firefighters to return.

Reported by: BBC News · Fire Industry Association Link to this incident

South Norfolk Council reported in early April 2025 that an e-scooter battery had caused a fire in one of its bin lorries the previous week. The council said the fire posed a significant danger to the public and refuse workers, but no one was injured. It urged residents to recycle lithium batteries from items such as e-bikes and e-scooters responsibly.

Reported by: South Norfolk and Broadland Council Link to this incident

Around 100 square metres of scrap metal and electrical waste caught fire at a waste recycling site on Transport Avenue in Brentford in the early hours of 22 March 2025. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters used a water relay system to bring it under control. The most probable cause was the failure of a lithium-ion battery in the waste.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

A recycling collection lorry caught fire at about 08:40 on Minerva Way in Cambridge on 14 March 2025. The waste partnership said a battery or batteries were the likely cause, and smouldering waste was tipped onto the road to stop the fire spreading. Two crews attended and the cause was recorded as accidental.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A bin crew on a round in Little Weighton, near Cottingham, dumped around two tonnes of smouldering rubbish in a secure pub car park after their load caught fire on Thursday 23 January 2025. Firefighters were called to extinguish it. The crew were unhurt and the lorry was undamaged, but the recyclable waste was destroyed.

Around two tonnes of blue-bin recyclable waste destroyed.

Reported by: East Riding of Yorkshire Council Link to this incident

About 10 tonnes of rubbish were emptied onto a car park in Chilwell after a bin lorry fire on Pearson Avenue on 21 January 2025. The council said the blaze was thought to have been sparked by a discarded vape. Fire crews extinguished the fire and no one was injured.

About 10 tonnes of waste offloaded; collections not disrupted.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A severe fire broke out on 4 January 2025 at a materials recovery facility on Westgate in Aldridge, Walsall, with up to 60 firefighters attending. The operator said a vape lithium battery wrongly placed in a blue recycling bag was believed to have started the blaze, which spread rapidly and destroyed the plant's electrical systems. The site was evacuated safely but closed for six months for a multi-million pound rebuild.

Site closed for six months for rebuild; up to 60 firefighters and 10 engines.

Reported by: BBC News · BBC News · letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A fire broke out at a materials recovery facility in the Beighton area of Sheffield in January 2025 after a battery ignited within the plant. The site, which handles around 25,000 tonnes of kerbside paper and card annually, was forced to shut for months, diverting recycling elsewhere. No injuries were reported.

Facility closed for months; recycling operations diverted elsewhere.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A fire developed in around 300 tonnes of waste inside a tipping hall at a waste recycling plant on Devon Street in Southwark on 18 November 2024. Around 100 people left the site before firefighters arrived and six fire engines with around 40 firefighters brought the fire under control. Site staff helped by using shovel loaders to remove piles of recycling.

Around 100 people left the site; residents advised to keep windows shut.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade · letsrecycle.com · MRW Link to this incident

Around 60 tonnes of mixed household waste was damaged by fire at a waste recycling centre on Civic Way in Northolt late on 28 October 2024. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters extinguished the fire. It was recorded as accidental, with a lithium battery igniting within the waste the most probable cause.

Around 60 tonnes of waste damaged.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

A fire broke out at the Bury St Edmunds waste transfer station, reported by West Suffolk Council on 25 October 2024. The council believed it was sparked by a battery or vape among general household waste, and two fire engines attended to ensure it was fully extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Reported by: West Suffolk Council Link to this incident

A large pile of household waste was destroyed by fire at a refuse depot on Coldharbour Lane in Rainham on the evening of 24 September 2024. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters brought the fire under control. The most likely cause was believed to be the catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

A fire started at about 12.50am on 14 September 2024 at a waste management site in Basildon. Staff arrived within 20 minutes and moved vehicles to stop the fire spreading, while fire crews remained on site around the clock for almost a week before the fire was confirmed out on 20 September. The operator believes a lithium battery in the unprocessed inbound waste stack started the blaze.

Fire service on site 24 hours a day for almost a week.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A refuse lorry caught fire while being driven through Wolsingham in County Durham, with the crew dumping the smouldering rubbish and calling the fire service. The driver described flames of about 15ft and explosions after the load was dumped. It was one of two truck fires the council reported that month, both linked to lithium batteries.

Crew dumped the burning load; flames reported reaching about 15ft.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

Discarded vapes were blamed for seven separate fires in two weeks in September 2024 at the council recycling centre at Bryn Lane on Wrexham Industrial Estate. The council said the vapes' lithium-ion batteries ignited rubbish at the site, and each fire forced a two hour shutdown of operations. New fire safety systems were installed after insurance costs rose.

Seven fires in a fortnight recorded as one entry; each caused a two hour shutdown.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

Two bin lorry fires broke out in August 2024 while crews were collecting household waste in Rodborough and Cashes Green in the Stroud district. In both cases the crew noticed smoke from the back of the truck after the bins had been compacted. The fires were traced to a battery and a vape in the household waste.

Two separate lorry fires in the same month, recorded as one entry; one traced to a battery and one to a vape.

Reported by: Stroud District Council Link to this incident

A fire at a scrap metal yard on Randlesdown Road in Bellingham on 22 July 2024 damaged two ISO containers, parts of two skips and part of a flat bed lorry. One man was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service. The fire was recorded as accidental with a lithium battery in the waste the most probable cause.

Fire under control within about an hour.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled a fire at a recycling centre on Amenity Way in Morden in the early hours of 20 July 2024. A pile of rubbish measuring 20 metres by five metres was alight. Around 50 people were evacuated from neighbouring properties as a precaution.

Around 50 people evacuated; air quality monitored.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade · MRW Link to this incident

A major fire broke out in the early hours of 6 July 2024 at a materials recovery facility on Tipner Lane, Portsmouth, where 117 tonnes of domestic material was completely consumed. Around 40 firefighters tackled the blaze and the M275 motorway was closed because of thick black smoke. The fire service said the most probable cause was lithium batteries.

M275 closed until the following day; facility closed until further notice.

Reported by: Fire Protection Association Link to this incident

A fire broke out at a warehouse holding tonnes of recycling material on Dockside Road in Middlesbrough shortly after 6pm. Five fire engines attended and the blaze was extinguished at about 11pm. Around 20 tonnes of recycling material was damaged.

About 20 tonnes of recycling material damaged; five engines in attendance.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A goods vehicle carrying general recycling waste caught fire on the Newtown bypass in Powys on the afternoon of 7 June 2024. Around 13 tonnes of mixed recycling had to be removed from the trailer, and several crushed and damaged disposable vapes were found among it. The road was closed and crews remained on scene until after midnight.

Newtown bypass closed; Natural Resources Wales, police and the county council attended.

Reported by: Sky News Link to this incident

Crews collecting rubbish in the Elliott Road area of March noticed smoke from the back of their lorry on 11 May 2024, and about four tonnes of waste caught fire. The fire service believed the cause was a lithium-ion battery. The waste transfer station in March, where the fire was extinguished, was closed for the rest of the day and collections for about 6,000 homes were disrupted.

Bin collections for around 6,000 properties affected; March waste transfer station closed for the day.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A fire broke out at the Weaving Lane household waste recycling centre in Dewsbury in late May 2024, linked by the site operator to a damaged vape battery. Quick action by staff and the fire service caught the fire early and damage was contained. Residents were urged to use new vape recycling bins at local recycling centres.

Fire caught early and damage contained.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A bin lorry caught fire in Great Shelford in spring 2024, one of seven lorry fires in the Greater Cambridge area since January that the shared waste service attributed to lithium-ion batteries put in wheelie bins. Crews must rapidly find a safe place to unload burning waste when such fires break out.

One of seven battery-caused bin lorry fires in Greater Cambridge Jan-May 2024.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A bin lorry fire broke out on the edge of Orchard Park and King's Hedges in north Cambridge in spring 2024. The shared waste service said lithium-ion batteries placed in wheelie bins caused this and several other lorry fires in the area since January. Residents were reminded to take batteries and vapes to recycling points instead.

One of seven battery-caused bin lorry fires in Greater Cambridge Jan-May 2024.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

West Midlands Fire Service recorded a fire at a recycling centre in the Sutton Reddicap ward of Sutton Coldfield in March 2024. The dataset attributes the source of ignition to an e-cigarette battery among rubbish or waste material. No injuries were recorded.

Reported by: Birmingham City Observatory (WMCA / West Midlands Fire Service) Link to this incident

A recycling collection lorry caught fire in Portsmouth on 4 January 2024 after a lithium-ion battery in a household recycling bin was crushed by the vehicle's compaction equipment. The crew drove back to the depot and emptied the burning five tonne load onto the yard. Firefighters removed the burning battery and no one was hurt.

Quick action saved the 230,000 pound lorry.

Reported by: Portsmouth City Council · BBC News Link to this incident

West Midlands Fire Service recorded a fire in a lorry or HGV in the Perry Barr ward of Birmingham in December 2023. The dataset attributes the source of ignition to an e-cigarette battery, with rubbish or waste material as the item responsible. No injuries were recorded.

Reported by: Birmingham City Observatory (WMCA / West Midlands Fire Service) Link to this incident

A fire broke out in a metal storage skip at the Farington Waste Recovery Park near Leyland in November 2023. Firefighters spent around two hours extinguishing it. The council linked it to batteries that had not been recycled correctly, part of a run of 27 battery-related fires at Lancashire waste sites since the start of 2023.

Took firefighters about two hours to extinguish.

Reported by: Lancashire County Council Link to this incident

A battery fire at the Smallmead recycling site in Reading on 9 October 2023 caused damage estimated at 20,000 pounds. CCTV showed flames erupting from a mound of waste and filling a warehouse with smoke. The council said it was the ninth fire at the site that year and the site was closed for a day, with waste lorries diverted to Hampshire.

Site closed for a day; ninth fire at the site in 2023; 20,000 pounds damage.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A battery started smoking in the back of a council recycling lorry at South Cerney in early October 2023. Two Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service crews brought the fire under control and escorted the vehicle back to the waste transfer station for monitoring. Everyone was unharmed.

Reported by: Gloucestershire Live Link to this incident

A council bin lorry in the Tandridge district caught fire in October 2023 after a lithium battery was placed in a household bin and smoke started pouring from the vehicle. The fire service was called and no injuries were reported. Repairs were expected to cost more than 17,000 pounds.

Repairs estimated at more than 17,000 pounds; vehicle loss affected collections.

Reported by: Surrey Live Link to this incident

Around 10 tonnes of scrap metal caught fire in the open air at a metal recycling site on Factory Road in North Woolwich on 26 September 2023. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters attended. Residents were advised to keep doors and windows shut because of heavy smoke.

28 emergency calls received.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade Link to this incident

A serious fire broke out in a council recycling dustcart in Valley Road, Canterbury, on the morning of 22 September 2023. Kent Fire and Rescue Service cut the roof off the vehicle to reach the fire, and the crew were unharmed. The council said it strongly believed a battery in the rubbish caused the fire, the second such incident that week.

Second dustcart fire in Canterbury within days; some collections delayed.

Reported by: Canterbury City Council · BBC News Link to this incident

A collection of disposable vapes exploded during routine compaction of a general waste skip at Westhill household recycling centre in September 2023, igniting the skip's contents. Fire crews were called to extinguish it. The incident later prompted the council to install vermiculite-filled vape disposal containers at all its recycling centres.

Prompted new vape disposal bins across Aberdeenshire recycling centres.

Reported by: Aberdeenshire Council · BBC News Link to this incident

A crew was called just after 07:00 on 23 August 2023 to a fire in a refuse lorry on Hauxton Road in the Trumpington area of Cambridge. The county fire service said the fire was caused by lithium-ion batteries discarded in household waste. It was one of two bin lorry fires in the county within an hour that morning.

Significant disruption to the road network while the lorry was emptied.

Reported by: BBC News · Circular Online Link to this incident

At about 08:00 on 23 August 2023, crews were called to a refuse lorry fire in the Bretton area of Peterborough, roughly an hour after a similar fire in Cambridge. The county fire service attributed both fires to lithium-ion batteries discarded with household waste. No injuries were reported.

Reported by: BBC News · Circular Online Link to this incident

A fire broke out in the back of a bin lorry in Bursledon, Eastleigh, and was attributed to wrongly binned vapes. The crew spotted the fire and the load had to be emptied onto the road so two fire crews could damp down the contents. No one was hurt.

Waste load emptied onto the road.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

Around 100 tonnes of mixed household recycling caught fire inside a waste disposal site on Smugglers Way in Wandsworth in the early hours of 11 May 2023. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters brought the fire under control. London Fire Brigade recorded the most likely cause as the failure of a lithium battery.

100 tonnes of mixed household recycling involved.

Reported by: London Fire Brigade · MRW Link to this incident

West Midlands Fire Service recorded a lithium battery fire in a lorry or HGV in the St Michael's ward of Coventry in March 2023. The dataset lists the source of ignition as battery apparatus and the item responsible as rubbish or waste material. No injuries were recorded.

Reported by: Birmingham City Observatory (WMCA / West Midlands Fire Service) Link to this incident

A recycling collection vehicle caught fire on Berry Lane in the Langdon Hills area of Basildon on 8 February 2023. The council said the blaze was caused by batteries that had been placed in a bin bag, and crews removed the burning bags from the truck. No injuries were reported.

Council said a previous vehicle fire had caused about 15,000 GBP of damage.

Reported by: BBC News Link to this incident

A deep seated fire broke out at 2.35am at a waste site in Glasgow comprising a depot and a materials recycling facility. The operator suspects a lithium battery brought in on a waste vehicle the previous evening started the blaze. Crews remained at the scene for six days.

Six appliances and over 40 firefighters at the height; site not fully operational a week later.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident

A fire broke out in a council general waste collection vehicle close to its depot while out on a collection in Gravesend. The council said discarded domestic batteries sparked the fire, which caused around 3,000 pounds of damage. The crew were unhurt.

Around 3,000 pounds of damage.

Reported by: KentOnline Link to this incident

A fire broke out at about 11pm at a metal recycling facility in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich. The operator believes a lithium battery hidden in incoming material was the cause. Thermal cameras detected the heat quickly, the fire was extinguished within around 90 minutes and the site reopened by 7am.

Seven fire engines at the peak; site reopened by 7am next morning.

Reported by: letsrecycle.com Link to this incident