A spate of significant fires across the West Midlands has sparked a plea from West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) to safely bin batteries and vapes.

Between 30 December 2024 and 7 January 2025, a total of 200 firefighters responded to fires at scrap metal, breakers and recycling sites.

All were accidental but avoidable, as it’s suspected some of these incidents were started by batteries, which are a growing concern in the fire sector.

Such blazes pose significant dangers to fire crews, given the sheer mass of waste on fire and the presence of a wide range of flammable items such as gas cylinders and vehicles.

A selection of batteries all together on a table

We need local residents and businesses to work together to stop battery-related fires happening in the first place

Area Commander Gemma McSweeney, Head of Protection for WMFS, said:
“I want to assure our communities, local businesses and partners that we recognise how damaging these incidents can be for local areas, employees and business owners.

“Our protection team and fire crews will be focusing their work on supporting businesses, identifying risks and ensuring everything is compliant with fire safety regulations.

“We have a role to play in enforcing fire safety regulations, and our audits proactively identify risks and solutions to help businesses safeguard their operations, employees, and the wider community. We encourage businesses to engage with us to address any concerns and seek support in implementing fire prevention measures.

“Fire safety is a shared responsibility, and by working together, we can protect people, businesses and the environment from the devastating effects of fires. We’re here to help.

“We want to stop such significant and disruptive incidents taking place in the first place, ensuring businesses are safe and don’t need to call 999 for our services.”

Emily Fernandez

Head of Prevention

We are urging the public to help keep our communities safe, which is why we’re asking people to bin their batteries with care. If you don’t, they could catch fire in your bin, at recycling plants or in landfill sites, presenting our firefighters with significant incidents and risks.

WMFS Head of Prevention, Emily Fernandez, added that the public also have a role to play.

“Whilst this recent run of incidents of this type is unusual, we are increasingly concerned they will become more frequent. We are investigating the causes and are considering poor disposal of lithium-ion batteries as a contributing factor.

“We are urging the public to help keep our communities safe, which is why we’re asking people to bin their batteries with care. If you don’t, they could catch fire in your bin, at recycling plants or in landfill sites, presenting our firefighters with significant incidents and risks.

“Batteries with a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol mustn’t go in household waste, but can be disposed of easily in battery recycling bins found at most supermarkets. Please tape up both ends of lithium batteries to help prevent fire.

“Most disposable vapes can be recycled at household waste recycling centres, so check with your local council, or ask at your vape shop, to avoid sending them to landfill.”

The Recycle Your Electricals website has great resources on how, and why, you should recycle your vapes, including disposable ones.

Crossed out wheelie bin symbol that may appear on batteries or other electrical goods

Batteries with a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol mustn’t go in household waste

The growing concerns around rechargeable lithium-ion batteries not being used or disposed of safely

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are a growing concern for WMFS. If they’re not charged, following manufacturers guidelines, they pose a significant risk of overheating, exploding or causing a fire. The nature of the fire can be unpredictable, release toxic gasses and spread intensely and quickly.

Such batteries are used in a range of household devices, including e-bikes and scooters. From 2022 to 2023, the number of fires involving these products doubled.

Emily said: “These products are here to stay, so we all need to know the risks and take extra care to keep our homes and loved ones safe.

“You should only charge these products until they are fully charged, and never overnight, unattended or anywhere on an escape route.

“Look out for battery danger signs – unusual smells, changes in colour, shape or size, excessive heat, leakage or strange noises like hissing.

“If you see, smell or sense any of these issues, move the item somewhere safe, if you can. Then call 999 and ask for the fire service.”

A Birmingham City Council recycling bin, next to a normal general waste bin

Where to bin batteries and vapes safely

Discarded rechargeable lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of at battery recycling locations, with the ends taped up. Find out more on our dedicated rechargeable lithium-ion batteries page.

To recycle electrical goods, including rechargeable batteries, safely, we recommend using the search tools at either https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/, or https://www.recyclenow.com/. Both these sites let you enter your postcode, then select what you want to recycle and suggest a range of places you can take your items. The Recycle Now (the second link) also helps you identify your local council recycling facilities too!

The Birmingham Observatory website also hosts a range of data on fires attended in the West Midlands, including those caused by lithium-ion batteries.