The City of Edinburgh Council has renewed its warning to residents about disposing of vapes and other battery-powered devices in household waste, after a bin lorry crew narrowly avoided a serious fire. An operative noticed smouldering rubbish inside a load of general waste collected from the Polwarth area of the city at the end of last month, forcing the crew to tip the contents onto the street so the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service could put out the flames.
The council said the incident was directly linked to batteries being wrongly placed in general waste, adding to a growing list of similar fires affecting refuse collection services across Scotland this year.
What exactly happened in Edinburgh?
Bin crews collecting general waste from Polwarth spotted smoke rising from the load and quickly realised the rubbish was smouldering. Rather than risk the fire spreading inside the vehicle, the crew emptied the lorry's contents directly onto the street, allowing fire crews to extinguish the blaze before it escalated.
Transport and environment convener Stephen Jenkinson said the episode should serve as a reminder to residents about correct disposal practices.
"This incident is an example of why residents must be vigilant in making sure batteries are disposed of correctly, so this doesn't happen again."
"We've had several other incidents like this in the past and it's important we highlight the potentially dangerous consequences that incorrect disposal of batteries can have for residents, the environment, and our colleagues."
Why are lithium batteries such a fire risk?
Lithium-ion batteries found in vapes, laptop chargers, e-scooters and hoverboards have been repeatedly linked to fires attended by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. When crushed or damaged inside collection vehicles, these batteries can ignite suddenly and burn with extreme intensity.
SFRS area commander for Glasgow, Garry Marshall, has previously told BBC Scotland News that although the overall number of battery-related fires remains low, the trend is rising steadily.
"Unfortunately, we do see incidents within bin lorries and recycling units where it does cause quite a lot of disruption and quite a high drain on resources particularly if it gets to recycling centres."
He also described the specific danger posed by these fires, noting that they develop rapidly and can be difficult to contain.
"[Battery fires are] a rapidly increasing, intensive heat fire that produces a significant amount of smoke and toxic fumes and can even lead to an explosion as well."
Edinburgh council's own recycling guidance, last updated on 22 May 2026, explicitly warns that vapes contain lithium-ion cells capable of sparking fires if crushed during collection, and instructs residents never to place them in ordinary waste or recycling bins, according to the council's official guidance.
How widespread is the problem across Scotland?
Glasgow has faced repeated incidents this year. GMB convener Chris Mitchell recently urged the public to be mindful of the dangers posed by discarding battery-powered items in household waste, warning that crews were dangerously close to a major incident.
"[Bin lorry crews are] one fire away from a major disaster."
That warning followed an incident in Glasgow city centre in which a crew was forced to eject burning rubbish onto the street. Glasgow City Council confirmed two bin lorry fires had occurred so far this year, following seven such incidents in the previous year.
In a further development, a bin lorry on Jamaica Street in Glasgow caught fire again on 12 August 2026 after a battery ignited among collected waste, once more forcing crews to unload the vehicle's contents onto the street, according to STV News. Two fire appliances attended the scene, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire was extinguished with no casualties before crews left the scene at 9.02am.
Elsewhere in Fife, the Ladybank Waste Facility experienced a prolonged blaze in May 2026 that crews described as a "deep-seated fire". Fife Council said it is still awaiting formal confirmation from an ongoing investigation, though an initial report pointed to improperly disposed batteries within the waste stream as a likely cause. Separate incidents in Aberdeen in 2022 and in Peterhead in 2025 have also been linked to battery fires, though no injuries have been reported in any of these cases across Scotland.
What is being done to tackle the problem?
Glasgow City Council has launched a new awareness campaign, Take Charge Glasgow, in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, urging residents not to dispose of batteries or vapes in ordinary household waste, according to the Association for Public Service Excellence. The council estimates that batteries, vapes and other electrical devices are linked to around 1,200 fire-related incidents in refuse vehicles and waste infrastructure across the UK.
Similar concerns have prompted action elsewhere in Scotland. A major fire at a battery recycling plant in North Ayrshire in April 2025 led to evacuations and road closures, according to a national broadcaster's report. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have since updated their guidance following a recycling-centre fire, now advising residents to place batteries in a designated pink bag for weekly collection, as detailed in a separate broadcaster report.
Mitchell has called for urgent, properly funded action from both the UK and Scottish governments to address the growing risk posed by electrical waste.
"We're moving into the electrical era with people using e-scooters and things like that, but we've got to put things in place very quickly, a properly funded strategy by the UK and Scottish government."
"We can't continue. It just takes one major accident and then there's a fatal accident inquiry and people want answers."
What happens next?
Glasgow City Council says its Take Charge Glasgow campaign will formally launch with public awareness activity next month, aiming to reduce the number of battery-related fires affecting waste collection and recycling services. Edinburgh's existing council guidance on battery and electrical disposal remains in place, with residents continuing to be directed to designated recycling points rather than household waste bins.
Key Facts
- A bin lorry crew in Edinburgh's Polwarth area had to empty waste onto the street after spotting smouldering rubbish at the end of last month.
- Glasgow City Council recorded two bin lorry fires this year and seven the previous year.
- A further Glasgow bin lorry fire occurred on Jamaica Street on 12 August 2026 after a battery ignited among the waste.
- Glasgow's new Take Charge Glasgow campaign links batteries and vapes to an estimated 1,200 fire-related incidents in UK waste infrastructure.
- No injuries have been reported in any of the battery-related waste fires across Scotland.
