Stamp out recycling fire-starters

A number of gas canisters found in household recycling

Help us to keep our crews safe as camping season gets underway. Alongside our kerbside collections contractor, SUEZ, we're once again reminding everyone of the dangers of putting gas canisters, batteries and barbeques in the recycling and rubbish.

1,000 potential fires from gas canisters have been avoided in the last year. Due to this rise, crews have had no choice other than to manually check recycling ahead of the automated sorting process to avoid sparking dangerous blazes.

Residents are placing their gas canisters in the bright blue bag with good intentions, but everyone needs to take care with these items. Gas canisters should be stored separately and taken to a local recycling site when finished with.

The blue bag can still be used to recycle empty aerosol bottles (for example, hair spray or deodorant), but should never be used to dispose of gas canisters.

What’s the difference?

Aerosols contain a smaller amount of ignitable gas and the bottles are under less pressure. This means they're less likely to ignite if crushed. Gas canisters are almost all gas which is stored at a high pressure and this makes the bottles more likely to explode if crushed.

What to do with hazardous items:

Disposable barbeques should be fully soaked, extinguished and left to cool. Otherwise they can easily retain heat, smoulder and start a fire in trucks and when tipped back at the depot.
Small household batteries can be recycled in weekly kerbside collections, but must be presented in a clear, tied plastic bag and clearly placed on the top of the recycling box. Batteries must not be left loose in recycling boxes, put in the bright blue bag or in the rubbish bin.
Small household batteries and electricals can also be taken to recycling sites - always check with the team on-site for the correct area to put these.
For residents with communal recycling collections, small batteries can be recycled at drop off points in local shops. To find your nearest recycling point visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk.
Large batteries, such as car batteries, cannot be recycled at the kerbside and should be taken to a recycling site.
Small gas canisters - like those used in camping stoves, are not recyclable in kerbside collections and must not be put in the rubbish bin. They must be taken a local household recycling site. Always check with the team on-site for the correct area to put these.

For more information, visit our Waste collection safety webpage.