More than 180 fires at rubbish dumps have been blamed on 'zombie batteries' from disposable vapes since a ban on the devices came into force earlier this year, according to waste management company Biffa. The firm reported finding over 840,000 discarded vapes at four of its largest waste sites between June and September alone.
The lithium-ion batteries inside the vapes can reach dangerously high temperatures if punctured, crushed or damaged, sparking ferocious fires. They have been dubbed 'zombie batteries' because when disposed of incorrectly in general waste or recycling bins, they can 'come back to life' by exploding in bin lorries and at waste centres, endangering workers and causing significant disruption.
Biffa has partnered with Electrical Safety First to issue a Halloween warning, noting that battery-powered decorations, light-up costumes and novelty gadgets also pose a risk if binned incorrectly. Video footage released by the company shows a lorry emptying smouldering waste onto a road after a battery fire erupted. A blaze at a Biffa transfer station in Coventry in August caused extensive damage and remains closed for repairs.
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said: 'Incorrectly disposing of a vape in the general household waste or recycling can have very real and frightening consequences for waste collection workers... We urge all households to stop, think, and don't bin the battery.' Luke Walter, manager of Biffa's Aldridge facility, experienced a devastating fire in January that put the site out of action for six months, costing millions in repairs.
Biffa and Electrical Safety First are urging the public to dispose of vapes and other battery-powered items carefully, with the message 'Don't bin the battery' this Halloween.
