Limerick public being urged to follow STAR recycling campaign

CLEAN IRELAND Recycling has launched a public awareness campaign after a rise in fires caused by batteries, vapes and electronic items being discarded in 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 streams and are now the leading cause of fires in the waste management industry.

Clean Ireland Recycling, the largest waste management operator in the Mid-West, says it has experienced several fires in its collection trucks and damage at one of its depots.

READ MORE: Being online late at night contributing to tiredness and lack of focus in Limerick students

The new Christmas initiative, Stop Think And Recycle (STAR) campaign, highlights the urgent need for action and comes ahead of the festive and New Year period.

This is because households typically dispose of old electronics and batteries while also bringing new ones into the home around this time of year.

Managing director of Clean Ireland Recycling, Brian Lyons said the sharp increase in batteries, vapes and electronics is creating a serious safety risk.

He said the improper disposal of these items “puts lives, property, the environment and businesses at risk”.

Brian urged the public not to dispose of batteries, vapes or electronic devices 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,” explained Brian. “If the casing cracks it can short-circuit, producing intense heat and sudden flames. Inside one of our trucks it can spread in seconds.”

Brian 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.”

He said preventing fires starts with proper disposal and that using the correct facilities helps protect homes, vehicles and recycling infrastructure.

Mr Lyons said preventing fires “starts with proper disposal” and that using the correct facilities helps protect homes, vehicles and recycling infrastructure.

The public is being urged to visit www.weeeireland.ie for WEEE Ireland recycling locations and for advice on the safe disposal of batteries and electronic waste.