A lithium battery, believed to be from a vape, set a bin lorry alight on Patrick Road. The load was dumped in the street and the clear-up took over two hours.

A lithium battery, believed to be from a vape, started a fire inside a bin lorry on Patrick Road in West Bridgford.

Rushcliffe Borough Council said the battery had been put in a grey bin. It called the fire small, but described an explosion in the vehicle. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service helped put it out. The council gave the details in a news release on Friday 30 October. It did not say which day the fire happened, and nobody was reported hurt.

A street full of rubbish

To find the fire and put it out, the crew had to tip nearly all of the lorry’s load onto the road.

The council’s Streetwise team then spent more than two hours loading what the council called “the mountain of waste” back into smaller waste vehicles. The council’s photographs show a grab lorry, caged tippers and staff with brooms working along the street.

Smoke and flames rising from a pile of waste tipped out of the back of a green Rushcliffe bin lorry onto the road
The lorry emptied its load onto Patrick Road so the fire could be found and put out. Photo: supplied by Rushcliffe Borough Council

Cllr Rob Inglis, the council’s cabinet portfolio holder for environment and safety, said:

“The fire is a stark reminder it’s vital you place the right items in the right bin and thank you to residents who always take the time to do this.

“To the minority, irresponsible actions like this can place our teams at huge risk and the subsequent clear up has been significant.”

He added that fires like this “are sadly more common across the country”.

What it means for you

Vapes and loose batteries must never go inside any bin, grey, blue, green or purple. The council’s bin collections page sets out what to do instead:

  • Household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V and similar): put them in any bag and leave the bag on top of any coloured bin, any week. The crews collect and recycle them.
  • Vapes and lithium batteries: the council asks for these to go to a recycling centre. West Bridgford’s is on Rugby Road, NG2 7HX, and moves to winter hours of 8am to 4pm from Sunday 1 November. Our tip opening times page has the full details.
  • Small electricals such as kettles, toasters, hairdryers, phones, laptops, torches and remote controls: leave them on top of your blue bin on collection day. Items with built-in batteries can go as they are. Wipe any data first.
  • Larger electricals such as microwaves, fridges and freezers: book a bulky waste collection or take them to one of Nottinghamshire’s 12 recycling centres.

The council also used the fire to remind residents what each bin is for:

Bin What goes in it
Blue Paper, card, food and drink cans, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, plastic bottles and Tetra Pak cartons. Never glass, batteries or electrical items.
Purple lid Glass bottles and jars
Green Grass cuttings, hedge clippings, twigs and small branches, weeds, flowers, plants, leaves and bark
Grey Household waste that cannot be recycled or composted. Wrap food waste and keep the lid shut.

Your collection day, and the Christmas changes when they are confirmed, are on our West Bridgford bin collection days page.