Shropshire warns over dangerous waste after battery fires and bin lorry blast

Shropshire residents are urged to handle hazardous household items with care after two separate incidents sparked fires in the county. A recycling centre fire in Shrewsbury involved a battery, and a bin lorry in Shifnal exploded after an old fire extinguisher was disposed of in a bin.

Authorities warn that items like batteries, vape devices, electrical gadgets, and gas canisters can ignite when crushed or heated inside waste containers, putting workers at risk.

Both Shropshire Council and the waste contractor Veolia have launched a safety campaign to raise awareness. They emphasise that many items can be safely disposed of at household recycling centres, while batteries can be recycled through the curbside collections service.

Councillor David Vasmer said residents must be cautious: The dangers of discarding batteries, gas canisters, vapes and other electrical items with general waste or recycling are real and can seriously injure collection crews.

Jeff Sears, Veolia regional director, added: We urge people to make small changes that significantly reduce the risk of fires in the waste chain.

For more tips and updates, follow INLIBER Shropshire on INLIBER Sounds, as well as our pages on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

Expert comment

Expert insight: Fire safety experts say public reminders like this save lives by preventing avoidable blazes and protecting waste workers.

Summary

Shropshire Council and Veolia are urging residents to separate dangerous items from general waste. By avoiding placing batteries, vape devices, and gas canisters in bins, the risk of fires at recycling centres and collection vehicles drops significantly. Local households can recycle many of these items at recycling centres or via the kerbside battery collection.

Key insight: Proper disposal of hazardous items like batteries and gas canisters reduces fire risk for waste crews and keeps communities safe. BBC News

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