A campaign by the Environmental Services Association is encouraging residents to safely dispose of their batteries, electrical goods, flammable liquids, vape devices and barbecue or firepit ashes to avoid a ‘bincident’.

Incidents of waste fires within waste containers, collection vehicles and processing facilities tend to increase during the summer months when waste material is dry.

These fires are typically caused by flammable, hot or explosive items in the waste or dry recycling. The recycling industry invests heavily in new systems and processes to mitigate and detect fires, but risks are effectively reduced by ensuring potentially dangerous items are disposed of correctly.

Items that are typically responsible for waste fires include:

• Batteries
• Flammable liquids such as petrol, lighter fluid, and spirits
• Compressed gas canisters such as patio or campaign gas, aerosols, and nitrous oxide
• Vape devices
• Barbeque or firepit ashes

Households in Rother can dispose of their vapes, batteries and small electrical items at the curb side by placing them in a carrier bag on top of their recycling or rubbish bin.

For fire ashes from your home BBQ, make sure the coals are cool before emptying the ash onto your garden soil.

Flammable liquids such as lighter fuel will be accepted in sealed and clearly labelled containers at your local waste recycling site.

For more information: Recycle Your Electricals – WEEE Recycling – Material Focus

Published: 20th July 2023