Tower Hamlets launches ‘Dispose Safe’ lithium-ion battery marketing campaign to deal with waste truck fires

Tower Hamlets Council has launched a brand new security marketing campaign calling for pressing motion to deal with the rise in fires attributable to discarded lithium-ion batteries, warning that the issue is placing waste crews in danger and disrupting bin collections throughout the borough.

Dispose Safe goals to handle the rising nationwide drawback of lithium-ion batteries igniting inside waste vans and recycling amenities. In Tower Hamlets alone, there have been 23 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, 9 of which occurred in our waste assortment automobiles. These fires are putting refuse crews at risk, destroying costly automobiles and inflicting main delays to residents’ waste collections.

At the guts of the marketing campaign is a short, animated film explaining how lithium batteries trigger fires when crushed inside waste vans and the way residents can get rid of them safely. The animation is obtainable to all native authorities and waste companions throughout the UK to assist elevate public consciousness and promote constant battery-safety messages.

Across the UK, greater than 1,200 bin lorry and waste website fires final 12 months have been linked to lithium-ion batteries, a 71 per cent improve in only one 12 months, in accordance with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Mayor Lutfur Rahman stated:

“This is not only a Tower Hamlets difficulty. It is a nationwide drawback that wants a nationwide response.

Every time a battery is thrown into the bin, it dangers exploding when crushed inside a waste truck. That places our frontline crews at risk, damages costly automobiles and causes critical delays to residents’ collections.

We are calling on residents, councils and the Government to take this difficulty significantly. Through our Dispose Safe marketing campaign, we’re exhibiting that prevention is easy: don’t bin it, recycle it safely. Together, we will cease these fires earlier than they begin.”

Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, stated:

“Our refuse crews have been positioned in actual hazard by fires began from one thing as small as a vape battery.

These fires are scary, unpredictable and fully avoidable. They not solely threaten the security of our employees but in addition result in missed collections and main service delays for residents when vans are broken or taken out of service.

We know campaigns like Charge Safe make an actual distinction. Dispose Safe continues that work with a sensible, visible instrument that any council can use to teach residents in regards to the dangers and stop harmful fires.

Local authorities are on the frontline of this difficulty; we want nationwide coordination and correct help to guard waste crews and maintain important providers operating safely.”

A confirmed report on fireplace security

The Dispose Safe marketing campaign follows the success of Tower Hamlets’ earlier Charge Safe initiative, run in partnership with the London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe marketing campaign, which raised consciousness of protected e-bike and e-scooter charging. That marketing campaign was extensively praised for enhancing public consciousness and has since been adopted by different councils. 

How residents can Dispose Safe

Residents are urged to:

• Never put batteries, vapes or electricals in family bins or recycling sacks.
• Use battery recycling bins in supermarkets and electrical retailers.
• Take bigger batteries, resembling e-bike or e-scooter packs, to a neighborhood recycling centre.
• If a battery is swollen, leaking or overheating, retailer it outdoors in a plastic container till it may be recycled safely.

A nationwide difficulty that wants collective motion

The London Fire Brigade has warned of the rising variety of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries. Tower Hamlets’ Dispose Safe marketing campaign helps their efforts and requires a nationwide recycling technique, clearer labelling and disposal recommendation, and higher assortment infrastructure so residents can recycle safely and simply. 

London Fire Brigade Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Richard Field, stated: “Lithium-ion battery fires are a serious threat and we’re attending fires frequently involving waste in bin lorries, together with in Tower Hamlets. We’ve additionally attended vital fires at waste disposal websites throughout the capital, which we suspect are attributable to lithium-ion batteries.

“These fires might be very time consuming for our firefighters and sometimes require a excessive degree of sources to extinguish. We’ve additionally seen the detrimental environmental and societal influence these fires can have on native communities.”

“We urge people to check with the retailer or your local authority’s website for the safest way to dispose of lithium-ion batteries in your area and reduce the risk of fires occurring.”

The Council urges residents and companions to help Dispose Safe and assist stop harmful waste fires by easy, protected battery disposal.

For extra info, please go to www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/dispose-safe. For media enquiries, please contact [email protected]  

Posted on Tuesday 18th November 2025