A FIRE at Rugby’s recycling centre sent a plume of black smoke into the sky yesterday (Thursday March 27).
Firefighters were called to Hunters Lane Recycling Centre at around 2pm after a skip containing small electricals caught fire.
Warwickshire’s Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) arrived swiftly and the fire was extinguished by 3pm.
Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) Waste Recycling Team paid tribute to WFRS’s quick response.
The fire is believed to have been caused by incorrectly disposed items.
Andrew Pau, Warwickshire County Council Head of Waste and Country Parks, said: “This incident at Hunters Lane serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of incorrectly disposed batteries and other hazardous items.
“It’s crucial that residents understand the correct way to dispose of items like batteries, vapes, and electricals to prevent future fires and ensure the safety of our recycling centre staff and the wider community.
“We urge everyone to utilise the dedicated facilities provided at our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) or through other designated collection points.”
The council advised residents to call the fire service on 999, keep their distance, stay indoors and shut their windows if they see smoke from a recycling centre.
The council said fires at recycling centres and in kerbside bins were most often caused by the following items, and advised of how to dispose of them correctly.
- Vapes – Do not put in any kerbside bin. Every HWRC in Warwickshire has a dedicated container for vapes, or return to the vendor
- Batteries – Do not put in a kerbside bin. Some local councils do take at the kerbside when presented in a separate bag on bin day. Every HWRC in Warwickshire has a dedicated container for batteries. They can also be disposed of in dedicated containers at many larger supermarkets and electrical retailers
- Waste electrical and electronic items – Do not put in a kerbside bin. Some local councils do take at the kerbside when presented in a separate bag on bin day. Every HWRC in Warwickshire has a dedicated container for waste electricals. They can aslo be returned to electrical retailers
- Hot ash, cinders, coals or disposable barbecues – Do not move or put in any bin until cold. Speed up cooling by using cold water.
Anyone who had a booking after 2 pm at Hunters Lane yesterday can visit today (Friday March 28) without having to make another booking. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hwrc for more information on Warwickshire’s recycling centres.
