Edinburgh residents have been warned not to dispose of lithium batteries in general waste or recycling bins after a discarded product nearly set a lorry on fire earlier this month.
After collecting rubbish from the Polwarth area of the capital, waste and cleaning operatives working for City of Edinburgh Council noticed a pile of smouldering waste in their bin lorry.
It is believed that a lithium ion battery caught fire whilst being crushed along with general waste.
The workers immediately pulled the lorry over and dumped the rubbish onto the street, where it was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Commenting after the incident, 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.
He added: “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 and other electronic products which contain lithium ion batteries, such as mobile phones, laptops, and electric toothbrushes, should never be placed in general waste or recycling bins.
Instead, they should be brought to household waste recycling centres and disposed of in designated drop-off points.
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Last month, a fire erupted in the back of a bin lorry in Rosewell after recycling was emptied into it.
According to Midlothian Council: “The exact source of the fire was not established but may have been caused by a battery, gas canister or disposable vape damaged during the collection process.
“When those items are crushed inside collection vehicles, they can ignite suddenly, causing fires that put collection crews, residents, vehicles and nearby property at risk.”
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