You throw something small into the bin. A dead power bank. An old vape. A broken electronic toy. Maybe a battery you meant to recycle but never quite got around to.

It does not feel particularly dangerous.

But once that waste reaches a bin lorry or recycling facility, the situation can change very quickly.

Lithium-ion batteries hidden inside everyday electrical items are causing hundreds of fires across the UK’s waste system.

According to figures from the Environment Services Association, its members recorded 1,518 fires at waste and recycling facilities in the year to March 2026. At least 541 were directly attributed to lithium-ion batteries. A further 216 battery fires occurred inside bin lorries.

That equates to more than 10 known lithium-ion battery fires every week at waste and recycling sites alone.

So, how can something small enough to fit in your pocket cause such a serious fire?

Why Does Putting a Battery in the Bin Cause a Fire?

The battery may seem harmless when you throw it away.

The problem often comes later.

Recycling facilities compact, crush, and move household waste through machinery. If a lithium-ion battery is punctured, crushed, or damaged during this process, it may short-circuit and overheat and, in some cases, this triggers thermal runaway, the same rapid chain reaction we covered in our previous lithium-ion battery fire guide.

The battery can ignite within seconds.

Placing the battery in a bin lorry or recycling facility packed with cardboard, plastic, paper, and other combustible materials can cause a fire. Even a small battery can ignite a much larger fire.

It Is Not Just Loose Batteries

One of the main dangers of battery fires is that many batteries are concealed. You probably understand not to dispose of rechargeable batteries in your household trash, but it’s easier to overlook the batteries inside everyday devices.

They can be found in:

• Vapes and e-cigarettes
• Power banks
• Mobile phones
• Wireless headphones and earbuds
• Electric toothbrushes
• Electronic toys
• Handheld vacuum cleaners
• Cameras
• Shavers
• Small power tools

If an item contains a plug, battery, or charging cable, remove it before disposing of the item in general waste or household recycling.

Vapes Are a Particular Problem

Although single-use vapes were banned from sale in the UK on 1 June 2025, vape waste persists.

Rechargeable devices still hold lithium-ion batteries, and millions of old vapes and pods continue to enter waste streams.

Material Focus reports that over 6 million vapes and pods are discarded weekly instead of being recycled properly.

This is understandable—vapes are small, and once empty or broken, it’s tempting to throw them into the nearest bin. However, these small devices contain batteries that can ignite a fire if damaged during collection or processing.

These Fires Are Already Happening

This is not a theoretical risk.

In July 2026, about 80 tonnes of household waste ignited at a recycling facility in Wimbledon Park, with the London Fire Brigade citing a likely lithium-ion battery as the cause.

That same month, firefighters responded to a waste site in Edmonton after a failed lithium-ion battery in a power bank ignited roughly four tonnes of general waste.

In August, a damaged lithium-ion battery caused a fire at an Ilford recycling site, destroying an industrial refuse compactor and around three tonnes of recyclable materials.

These incidents show how a single small electrical item can trigger unexpectedly large fires.

Why Waste Fires Cause Wider Problems

While the immediate danger to waste and recycling workers is evident, the broader impact can be extensive.

Large waste fires often demand multiple fire engines and large water supplies to control them.

Smoke from these fires can harm nearby businesses and residences. Additionally, sites may shut down during investigations, cleaning, and repairs.

Research by Material Focus shows that battery waste fires can temporarily increase air pollution, such as higher levels of fine particles.

The financial repercussions are also significant, with estimates suggesting the UK waste industry faces annual costs of about £1 billion due to such fires.

This stems from batteries ending up where they shouldn’t.

So, What Should You Do With Used Batteries?

Never dispose of loose batteries in regular trash or household recycling bins.

Most supermarkets and larger stores selling batteries offer collection points for used household batteries.

For lithium batteries, government guidance advises covering the terminals with tape before recycling to minimise short-circuit risks.

If a battery is integrated into an electrical device and cannot be easily removed, recycle the entire device.

Your local household waste recycling centre usually has a specific area for electrical waste.

What Should You Do With an Old Vape?

Never dispose of vapes with general waste or household recycling.

Businesses that sell vapes must offer ways for customers to return used devices for proper recycling.

Alternatively, you can use dedicated vape disposal bins or take them to a designated electrical recycling facility.

Do not dismantle or damage a vape to remove its battery, especially if it is not meant to be easily removable. In such cases, recycle the entire device through the proper collection channels.

Taking this extra step can help prevent dangerous fires.

Reducing the Battery Fire Risk Starts at Home

This problem has a somewhat odd aspect. Fires can start miles away at a recycling centre or within a refuse vehicle, yet the sequence often begins with a single decision at home or at work.

Always check the contents of an electrical item before discarding it.

An old vape, power bank, or rechargeable device may seem past its use, but its battery may still hold a significant amount of energy.

Recycle these items separately.

When Battery Fires Cause Property Damage

When a battery fire impacts a home, business, or commercial location, extinguishing the flames is only the initial step.

Smoke and soot can spread far beyond the original fire site, with residues continuing to damage surfaces and contents.

Additionally, water used in firefighting can cause further harm that requires attention. ServiceMaster Restore offers specialised fire and smoke damage restoration services throughout the UK.

Our experienced teams evaluate the damage, remove soot and smoke contamination, eliminate persistent odours, and help restore affected buildings and belongings.

For commercial incidents, prompt intervention can also minimise disruption and safeguard stock, documents, equipment, and undamaged areas of the property.

We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can work directly with homeowners, businesses, insurers, brokers and loss adjusters throughout the restoration process.

If your property has suffered fire or smoke damage, call ServiceMaster Restore on 0800 021 3970 or find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today.