Dennis Eagle launches educational campaign to reduce RCV fires from improper battery disposal
Improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries ignite thousands of refuse collection vehicle fires each year, and Dennis Eagle is urging better recycling through a new educational series.
6 billion
over 1,200
71%
What Happened
When lithium-ion batteries are crushed inside a refuse collection vehicle, positive and negative ends can meet, sparking a thermal runaway that reaches up to 800 degrees Celsius. This chain reaction ignites surrounding waste, causing intense fires that are difficult to extinguish and pose risks to crews, the public, and the environment.
According to the Environmental Services Association, roughly six billion batteries were thrown away in the UK in 2024 alone. The National Fire Chiefs Council recorded over 1,200 RCV or waste facility fires directly related to batteries in that period, a 71% increase from the previous year.
- Don't throw batteries in the general or recycling bin
- Take batteries, vapes, and WEEE to a recycling point
- Help your residents locate their closest recycling point
Why this matters
Battery-related RCV fires increased 71% in the UK last year, endangering crews and the public, while driving up costs for councils; proper disposal can prevent most of these fires.
Terms in This Story
- RCV
- Refuse Collection Vehicle, a garbage truck.
- thermal runaway
- A chain reaction where a battery overheats uncontrollably, leading to fire.
- WEEE
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, such as old electronics and appliances.
- kerbside collection
- Waste collection service where items are picked up from households' curbs.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.