Lincolnshire areas could get new bins for batteries and vapes

Lithium-ion batteries can ignite when crushed after being put in normal waste bins, causing fires in bin lorries or at recycling centres.

Collection points are available in many shops or local government buildings.

Four of Lincolnshire’s districts are currently investigating how they could be collected more safely from people’s homes.

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership meeting on Thursday (November 12) heard updates on the project, although they could still be some time away.

David Steels, Assistant Director for Environment at North Kesteven District Council, told the meeting they posed a “significant fire risk” and there was a “clear case for making it safer”.

North Kesteven

Residents in North Kesteven are likely to be the first to have some form of battery and vape collection at home.

One possibility is a miniature bin which is hung on wheelie bins, which would be emptied first into special collection boxes fitted onto the vehicles.

These would have plastic bases, so if a fire did break out, the material would burn through it and reduce the risk to the lorry and staff.

The council is currently waiting for the boxes to be manufactured, with no expected date yet.

Lincoln

The City of Lincoln Council’s current preferred option would be for residents to leave batteries and vapes in bags tied to bin handles, which can then be put in the lorry’s collection pods.

However this is unlikely to be soon – the Lincoln depot doesn’t have a licence to store batteries, and these can reportedly take a year to obtain.

The committee will be writing to the government to complain about the delays, with Councillor Richard Wright describing them as “ridiculous”.

South Kesteven

Residents in South Kesteven were previously able to leave batteries in bags on their wheelie bins, however this was suspended in June.

There’s no date on when these will resume or expand to vapes.

Council officers have expressed concern about high demand, saying battery collection caused “very large amounts for the first few weeks, [and] we expect the same with vapes – possibly worse due to varying sizes or styles”.

West Lindsey

West Lindsey District Council is considering a range of options for how best to collect batteries and vapes.

East Lindsey, South Holland and Boston

Officers from these councils say there are “no firm plans” at this stage, and will look into it in 2027.

These districts have recently implemented or are about to implement food waste collections.