A new initiative has been launched in Glasgow in a bid to see vapes and batteries recycled properly following a series of fires in city refuse vehicles.
Take Charge Glasgow, a new campaign backed by Glasgow City Council and Scottish Fire and Rescue, urges residents to never bin batteries or vapes in standard bins found at home or in the street.
Instead, the campaign calls for people to dispose of their batteries and vapes, as well as other small electrical devices, in the dedicated recycling points found in shops that sell batteries, electrical stores, and the council’s household waste and recycling centres.
Glasgow City Council said that batteries, vapes, and electrical devices are believed to be behind an estimated 1,200 fire-related incidents within refuse vehicles and other waste infrastructure across the UK.
Lithium-ion batteries, found in a range of common electrical devices such as mobile phones, games controllers, laptops, Bluetooth headphones, and vapes, have been highlighted as a particular issue, the local authority revealed.
Last year, council waste vehicles were struck by a series of fires that led to burning waste being dumped on the road so it could be extinguished by the fire service. One incident led to the closure of the M80 motorway while fire fighters dealt with tonnes of smouldering rubbish.
With concern growing across the UK waste industry about the impact of battery and vape fires, Take Charge Glasgow is raising the red flag on the issue to protect the city’s refuse workers and public property.
Councillor Laura Doherty, city convener for neighbourhood services and assets at Glasgow City Council, said, “We have seen at close hand in Glasgow the dangers posed by disposing of batteries and vapes, in ordinary bins.
“We have a responsibility to speak up and warn against failing to recycle batteries properly. Our staff, vehicles and depots can be put at enormous risk by one careless action. Lithium-ion batteries are a particular danger if they are crushed within a refuse vehicle or other waste processing equipment. I am extremely grateful for the backing we have received from Scottish Fire and Rescue for the Take Charge Glasgow campaign. The Fire Service clearly recognises the gravity of this issue, and I hope creating this united front has an impact on how people dispose of their batteries, vapes and electrical devices.
“The message of the Take Charge Glasgow campaign is very simple. Never bin your batteries or vapes, always recycle at a dedicated recycling point. Information on where you can recycle your batteries and vapes can be found at glasgow.gov.uk/batteries.”
Area Commander Andrew Kenna, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s local senior officer for the City of Glasgow, added, “Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly common in everyday rechargeable electrical items. These batteries can pose a fire risk if disposed of incorrectly. If placed in a general household bin, they can be damaged or crushed during waste removal process, potentially igniting fires in bins, refuse vehicles, or waste management facilities.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service supports the ‘Take Charge Glasgow’ campaign because safe disposal is a simple step that prevents fires before they start. Lithium‑ion batteries, vapes and non‑rechargeable batteries such as AA or AAA must always be recycled at dedicated points across the city and never placed in household waste. Additionally, we urge the public to always buy products from reputable retailers and to follow the manufacturer’s guidance for safe charging storage and maintenance. Never charge devices when you’re sleeping and keep escape routes clear in case there’s a fire.”
