Binning batteries can start fires and put lives at risk, says union boss

Lives are being put at risk because of refuse fires sparked by people incorrectly binning their batteries and electrical goods in household waste, a union boss has warned.

GMB convener Chris Mitchell made the appeal after a bin lorry crew was forced to eject rubbish that had caught fire onto the street in Glasgow city centre.

It is the latest in a series of fires affecting Scotland's refuse services which have been linked to goods containing lithium batteries, including vapes.

Mitchell called for a national strategy to educate people on how to dispose of electrical waste, funded by both the UK and Scottish governments.

The fire on Jamaica Street started on Wednesday morning, after the crew had picked up waste from student accommodation - though Mitchell said it was unclear where the waste had come from.

It is also unclear what sort of electrical item started the fire.

Mitchell told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast the bin lorry's load was expelled about 200 yards from the site of the Union Street fire in March, which began in a vape shop.

No-one was injured and fire crews were called to the scene to dampen the waste before it was cleared.

However, Mitchell warned crews were "one fire away from a major disaster" if incidents continued.

"This is a disaster and I'm actually surprised that no one's been killed because of this," he told the programme.

"We probably need more disposable vape bins across the street, we need to keep putting adverts out there and campaigning on a daily basis to remind folk when they are disposing things about the damage they can cause.

"This is a UK-wide thing as well. We've seen it, particularly in refuse, we've seen some of the recycling sites that have gone up in flames because of vapes and lithium batteries."

Glasgow City Council said two fires had taken place in bin lorries this year, with a further seven last year.

A spokesperson said staff followed the correct procedure in unloading the waste as soon as they became aware of the fire.

They added: "This quick response ensured they were unharmed and minimised the risk of damage to the vehicle.

"The unloaded waste was cleared soon afterwards."

Single-use vapes were banned across the UK in June last year, partly due to fire safety concerns.

Under the legislation, shops and online retailers are not permitted to sell the devices without a rechargeable battery, replaceable coil and capacity to be refilled.

Those caught breaking the law face fixed penalty notices of £200 for a minor breach and criminal prosecution for more serious infractions.

Some waste companies have called for a deposit to be charged on vapes to encourage users to dispose of them properly.

A number of other items, including laptop chargers, e-scooter batteries and hoverboards have been linked to battery-related fires attended by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Ladybank Waste Facility in Fife was ablaze for a significant period of time in May following what crews described as a "deep-seated blaze".

Fife Council said it was awaiting "formal confirmation" from an investigation into the incident, but an initial report did identify "improperly disposed batteries within the waste stream" as a possible cause.

Incidents in Aberdeen and Peterhead were linked to battery fires in 2022 and 2025 respectively.

Mitchell said those throwing away battery-powered items had to be "mindful" of the potential harm they could cause.

He said: "We're moving into the electrical era with people using e-scooters and things like that, but we've got to put things in place very quickly, a properly funded strategy by the UK and Scottish government.

"We can't continue. It just takes one major accident and then there's a fatal accident inquiry and people want answers."