Dramatic moment fire ignites at Aldridge waste facility - exploding vape blamed

Dramatic footage shows the moment a suspected discarded vape sparked a fire at a Biffa waste facility.

A CCTV camera at the Aldridge Materials Recovery Facility captured the moment a fire began, allegedly caused by a carelessly discarded vape.

The lithium batteries in vapes pose a fire hazard and should be taken to a household waste recycling centre or disposed of in designated vape bins found in some local shops.

Biffa suspects the fire in Aldridge began after a vape was thrown into a regular recycling bin and later exploded at the facility.

Michael Topham, CEO of Biffa, said: “The UK is facing a growing epidemic of battery-related waste fires, which threaten lives, vital infrastructure, and the environment.

“Whether discarded on their own or hidden inside electronic devices, batteries wreak havoc when thrown in the wrong bin.

"Unfortunately, this happens far too often due to a lack of convenient recycling options for householders.”

The footage was filmed in January this year.

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