Exploding vape thought to have caused second fire in six months at waste facility
A blaze broke out at a West Midlands waste facility – the second in six months thought to have been caused by an exploding vape battery.
The fire took place at Biffa’s Materials Recovery Facility in Aldridge last week and officials from the waste management firm say they believe it was sparked by a lithium battery from a vape incorrectly placed in a blue recycling bag.
Though the latest fire, which took place last Tuesday (July 1st), was quickly contained by Biffa’s onsite fire suppression system, the blaze at the site in January required the attendance of up to 60 firefighters.
South Staffordshire Council and Biffa are now seeking to remind people not to put vape pens, batteries, or rechargeable items containing batteries in normal waste, recycling bins or bags.
These items should be placed in a carrier bag and put alongside the grey bin at the kerbside, where bin crews will collect it separately on residents’ usual collection days.
Alternatively, they can be disposed of at household recycling centres or at special vape bins which can be found at most supermarkets.
Win promo video worth more than £1,000 by signing up to Ask for Angela scheme
Licensed premises are being offered the chance to win a video showcasing their venue worth more than £1,000 when they sign up to a national safeguarding scheme.
The competition, ran by South Staffordshire Council, is open to any licensed premises in South Staffordshire.
To be in with a chance of winning, venues simply need to sign up to the Ask for Angela scheme via this link:
Ask for Angela survey for licensed premises | South Staffordshire District Council
Ask for Angela is a national scheme which helps licensed venues discreetly assist customers who find themselves in threatening, unsafe or uncomfortable situations.
Find out more about Ask for Angela here: Home – Ask For Angela.
🚛✨ Name our Bin Trucks competition ✨🚛
Thank you for your support!
We’re thrilled with the fantastic response to the launch of Engage South Staffordshire, our new community engagement platform.A big thank you to everyone who has already signed up and shared their brilliant bin truck name ideas – your creativity and community spirit have been inspiring.
If you haven’t joined in yet, there’s still time! The Name the Bin Trucks competition is open until Wednesday, 16th July, and we’d love to hear your suggestions.
This fun and inclusive project is open to everyone – all ages and all areas – and it’s a great way to get involved in shaping your local community in a light-hearted way.
Prizes include:
- Your winning name displayed on a real South Staffordshire bin truck
- A personalised certificate and a Biffa goody bag
- A featured story on the council’s website and social media
To enter, simply create an account on Engage South Staffordshire and submit your idea through the online survey.
Citizen engagement platform | South Staffordshire District Council
Job vacancies
External vacancies
- Street Scene Operative (Level 2), closing on 18th July
- Leisure Assistant, Wombourne Leisure Centre, closing on 13th July
- Planning Solicitor, open closing date
All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our recruitment site.
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