The waste management industry is urging the public not to bin batteries following a rise in fires sparked by batteries, vapes and electronics being thrown into household wheelie bins, skips and public street bins.
Items such as vapes, power banks, cordless power tools, e-bikes, and e-scooters are increasingly appearing in municipal waste and are now the leading cause of fires in the industry.
One of the largest waste management operators in the country, Clean Ireland Recycling in Shannon, Co Clare, has experienced several fires in its collection trucks and damage at one of its depots.
Managing Director Brian Lyons said the sharp increase in lithium ion batteries in vapes and electronics is creating serious safety risks.
He said the improper disposal of these items "puts lives, property, the environment and businesses at risk".
Mr Lyons urged the public not to dispose of batteries in household or public bins, but to bring them to designated WEEE/battery collection points.
"A fire can begin when a battery is compacted or pierced in a bin lorry. If the casing cracks it can short-circuit, producing intense heat and sudden flames. Inside one of our trucks it can spread in seconds," he said.
"It only takes one vape or power bank to trigger a serious incident.
"We have had fires start while trucks were on the road, forcing crews to stop, isolate the fire and in conjunction with fire services, unload burning material to save the vehicle.
"There are far too many reports from around the country of waste transfer stations and recycling facilities experiencing fires caused by batteries and other electronics."
Mr Lyons said preventing fires "starts with proper disposal" and that using the correct facilities helps protect homes, vehicles and recycling infrastructure.
Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) Secretary Conor Walsh would like to see the bring back scheme mandated across all electrical stores.
"DID Electrical and PowerCity are really good at the take back scheme because they have cages at the front of the store and it's very obvious when people arrive that they can bring back goods there."
The IWMA is also advocating for a deposit return scheme for vapes.
"That would be very simple," he said, "Put €2 on every vape that is bought and you get your €2 back when you go buy the next one.
"That would really help a lot because we need to incentivise people to go the extra yard and bring this material back to where they bought it, rather than just throw it in the bin where it's going to cause a lot of trouble for our members, and risk to life from these fires."
The public can contact their local recycling centre or visit MyWaste.ie for more advice on safely disposing of batteries and electronic waste.
