Warning issued after second bin lorry dumps rubbish on street after crushed battery starts fire

A warning has been issued over the disposal of lithium-ion batteries after waste collectors avoided another serious bin lorry fire.

The incident took place earlier this month when waste collectors in Edinburgh noticed smoke coming from the back of their vehicle.

They decided to dump the rubbish they had collected from the Polwarth area of the city onto the street and then called the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly, before the rubbish was cleared up.

The cause of the fire is likely to have been the crushing of lithium-ion batteries, which are very flammable.

Items which contain these batteries include tablets, laptops, cameras and vapes.

Improper disposal could lead to a fire within a bin lorry or even a waste centre.

The incident follows another blaze in Glasgow, where a bin lorry caught fire on Jamaica Street.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire, and a warning was issued by the council about improper disposal.

Transport and environment convener, Stephen Jenkinson, said: “I’d like to thank these colleagues for their quick actions, as well as the fire service for stopping an actual fire from taking hold.

“This incident is an example of why residents must be vigilant in making sure batteries are disposed of correctly, so this doesn’t happen again.

“We’ve had several other incidents like this in the past, and it’s important we highlight the potentially dangerous consequences that incorrect disposal of batteries can have for residents, the environment, and our colleagues.”

Vapes can be disposed of safely at household waste recycling centres, vape stores with collection bins or some supermarkets with dedicated vape disposal bins.