As spring cleaning season sweeps across the UK, experts are pleading with Brits to never ever put this item into their bins as it could cause a fatal house fire. Fire safety specialist Jonny Smith from Crusader Fire has shared that one of the most dangerous things you can put in your bin is a vape.
He said: “With 13.5 million vapes purchased weekly in the UK, 71 percent of vapes are still being improperly discarded. The easiest way to dispose of vapes is to hand them back to the retailer, where vape disposals are mandatory. Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in vapes and electronic devices, are extremely flammable when damaged or crushed.”
“These items can cause fires that are not only dangerous but are also difficult to extinguish, as lithium-ion batteries create their oxygen, allowing flames to reignite. These batteries have caused over 1,200 fires in the waste industry in the past year alone, stressing the importance of proper disposal.”
Another dangerous item which is commonly binned is electrical items such as tooth brushes, phones and even laptops. Kids toys with hidden batteries are also commonly improperly disposed of and could cause a fire.
Smith said: “Their hidden batteries are highly flammable and can cause dangerous fires and explosions during waste collection or processing.
“Take them to a recycling center or electrical item banks, or check with retailers for take-back schemes.”
It’s not just electronics that you need to worry about. Oil-based points and cleaning supplies can also cause fires and need to be safely disposed.
Smith said: “Oil-based paints might not seem dangerous, but they can release flammable fumes that ignite easily when compacted in a garbage truck. Disposing of leftover paint at hazardous waste facilities or during designated community collection points is the safest approach.”
When it comes to household cleaning products, accidentally mixing them together in the rubbish can cause harmful gases to form, or fires to break out.
Smith said: “Mixing household chemicals like bleach, ammonia, and paint thinner with other waste materials can trigger dangerous reactions, including fires. Products labeled flammable or combustible, such as rubbing alcohol, aerosol cans, nail polish, and hair sprays, can ignite when exposed to heat or mixed with other materials.
“To make sure they are safely disposed of, cans must be empty before being placed in recycling bins and full or partly full cans should be treated as hazardous waste and taken to a specialist facility. By following simple steps like detaching the lid and avoiding piercing or flattening the cans, we can make recycling safer and more effective.”