Hundreds of bin fires caused by discarded electronics are seeing experts call for separate waste collections by councils to halt a growing number of blazes in bin lorries and at refuse centers.
Campaigners fear the numbers of blazes could spike this month as a potentially bumper haul of electrical goods are thrown out following Christmas and Black Friday and January sales.
Mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, vapes, kettles, cables, chargers, lightbulbs and headphones are some of the most common electrical items that are thrown away in household waste.
It comes as the British Metal Recycling Association (BMRA) found discarded electrical items were linked to around 700 fires in the last 12 months, in what industry leaders say is becoming a growing problem.
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The biggest fire risk comes from discarded mobile phones and items such as tablets that contain rechargeable batteries, experts said i.
Such items and other battery operated goods can be safely recycled separately but when they are thrown out along with general waste they can get crushed in the disposal process.
In the event of puncture or spontaneous combustion, the batteries can explode and set alight the surrounding waste, posing a significant risk.
The more electricals with hidden batteries, lithium and lithium-ion batteries that get thrown away, the greater the fire risk in waste trucks and sites, campaigners said.
The British Metal Recycling Association (BMRA) has called for local authorities to carry out kerbside collections specifically for electronic goods.
James Kelly, the BMRA’s CEO, told i: “Data shows incorrectly discarded items were linked to 700 fires in the past 12 months to December. It’s highly likely the problem will continue through January, which is a month many of us are clearing out items, like unwanted Christmas presents and Black Friday purchases.
“And without new rules in this area, fires are set to carry on throughout the year thus creating a risk for the public, and those working in the recycling sector. It also puts extra pressure on already overstretched emergency services.”
Mr Kelly added: “If there is not an easy option, such as kerbside collection, it is likely that much of this will be disposed of incorrectly. This massively increases the risk of fires across the waste sector. That is why we need to see kerbside collections introduced right away.”
The Environmental Services Association has said fires caused by discarded electricals and batteries cost fire services and waste operators around £158 million a year.
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Last year, research by Recycle Your Electricals, a UK-wide campaign promoting the reuse and recycling of unwanted electrical goods, found nearly 40 per cent of UK adults bought almost 40m household tech items between Black Friday and Christmas in 2021, leading to 2m electricals being discarded in household bins.
Scott Butler, executive director, Material Focus, the not-for-profit leading Recycle Your Electricals, said: “Christmas can often see a surge in people buying electricals, our research has shown that this can lead to old unwanted electrical items with hidden batteries being thrown away.
“People should never bin their electricals or their portable batteries. If they can, they should remove any hidden batteries from their electricals and recycle the batteries and electricals separately. If they can’t remove the batteries then they should recycle their electricals separately.
“Having listened to the numerous stories of flames engulfing waste and recycling trucks as they drive down residential streets, it’s important that we all take action now to keep our streets, homes, waste and local authority staff, and fire fighters safe. People can find their nearest recycling point for batteries and electricals by visiting our recycle your electricals website.”