‘Lucky’ to escape explosion after this item ended up in recycling

It was a warm summer’s day at the Bristol waste transfer facility.

The site worker had been dutifully keeping an eye on operations as the baler compressed waste ready to be taken for recycling.

Suddenly, the floor shook and a bright flash filled the room.

An explosion had gone off and the flames were quickly spreading.

The site worker dashed off to get help, but in the 90 seconds it took for backup to arrive, a second explosion sent the flames raging.

It was later discovered that a battery had been put in the household recycling collection, when it should have gone into a suitable recycling collection or taken to the local household waste recycling centre (HWRC).

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the explosion, but security camera footage reveals the blast was potentially very dangerous and that it was lucky the site worker hadn’t been any closer when the explosion went off.

Craig Powell, contract manager in processing for Bristol Waste, said, “We were lucky with this one. The fire systems we have in place ensured it was controlled before it became too big. However, these types of fires, if we were on a residential street, could cause untold damage.

“People think because they are empty or flat, canisters and batteries are safe, but they act like little bombs, which are surrounded by dry flammable recycling – it’s really dangerous.”

Batteries, propane bottles, butane bottles and nitrous dioxide are some of the potentially deadly items that find their way into household recycling collections instead of being taken to their local household waste recycling centre (HWRC).

And the problem is only getting worse.

Too many incidents

Bristol wasn’t the only waste facility in England to have experienced an avoidable explosion in 2022.

Wakefield’s MRF (materials recovery facility) saw a gas canister make its way into the recycling baler and explode with staff onsite.

The explosion brought the facility to a halt for six hours and caused significant damage to the mechanisms.

Wakefield Council said there’s been an increase in explosions at the facility, as well as nationally.

While technology to scan for dangerous items is getting better all the time, the best way to stop dangerous incidents like the one in Wakefield is the education of recycling best practices.

Know what you can’t recycle

We’re all responsible for the waste generated in our local area and the simplest way to prevent hazardous items from harming waste workers is to be clear on what can and can’t be put in your household recycling collection.

Check the website of your local authority (Suffolk Recycles and Cambridge City Council website are the best resources for the areas that SunSkips serves) for complete lists of items and where to dispose of them.

Some hazardous waste items, such as asbestos, need to be managed by a specialist. Never be tempted to fly-tip hazardous waste as the fines and potential prison time you face is not worth the risk.

MORE: How to hire a skip and stay on the right side of local authorities

Your local authority should be able to offer advice on the correct procedure for disposing of anything you’re not sure of.

SunSkips sorts through everything that comes into our sites in a meticulous screening line, but doesn’t accept hazardous items like gas canisters (batteries can be collected by special arrangement). Check our full list of things you can’t put in a skip, our FAQs, or the booking page where you can clearly see what’s not accepted and what can be collected by special arrangement.

Feature image: Bristol Waste