ESA fire prevention campaign – Summer 2023

Fires within waste containers, collection vehicles, and processing facilities pose a serious risk for the recycling and waste management sector but the incidence of more significant waste fires tends to increase during the summer months when waste material is dry and when additional seasonal sources of ignition are present. 

Fires are typically caused by flammable, hot or explosive items present in waste or dry recycling and while the industry invests heavily in systems and processes to mitigate, detect and suppress fires, the risks are more effectively reduced by ensuring dangerous items are disposed of correctly, mostly by services offered by Household Waste Recycling Centres. 

The most common items responsible for fires are:

• Batteries

• Flammable liquids – such as petrol, lighter fluid and spirits

• Compressed gas canisters – such as patio or campaign gas, aerosols and nitrous oxide

• Vape devices

• Barbecue or firepit ashes

A YouGov poll commissioned by the ESA in May 2023 shockingly found that most consumers lack confidence about how to safely dispose of many of the items listed above, in response to this challenge, the ESA has created a wide range of consumer-facing communications campaign materials, optimised across various social media channels. To raise awareness of the dangers of improper disposal of the aforementioned items and to signpost their correct disposal. 

Check it out here!