By William Turtle-Clark

A safety warning has been issued after a fire broke out inside a bin lorry during collections in Herefordshire last week.

The blaze started when a lithium battery was mistakenly thrown into household waste. Crews spotted smoke while working on Crooked Well and Llewellin Road and quickly emptied the vehicle. The fire was then dealt with by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and thankfully no one was hurt.

The incident has prompted renewed warnings about the dangers of putting batteries and vapes in general waste, as they can be crushed during collection and ignite. Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, who leads on culture and environment at Herefordshire Council, said the crew’s quick actions prevented a more serious situation. She added that even small batteries can cause major problems if they end up in a household bin and urged residents to take a moment to recycle them properly to help keep collection teams safe and services running smoothly.

Lithium batteries are found in everyday items such as vapes, rechargeable batteries, mobile phones, tablets, and power banks. None of these should ever be placed in household bins or recycling sacks because of the fire risk if they’re crushed during the collection process.

The council says household batteries should be put in a clear plastic bag and left on top of your bin on collection day, where crews can safely pick them up for recycling.