Vapes causing growing number of garbage truck fires

Waste management companies are sounding the alarm: batteries in everyday products are increasingly causing fires. Vapes, or electronic cigarettes, are proving to be a major problem. On average, a garbage truck catches fire in the Netherlands almost every week.

This is what De Stentor writes based on figures from the Dutch Association for Waste and Cleaning Services (NVRD) and the Battery Fires Task Force.

Electric toothbrushes, toys, razors, and even greeting cards: they all contain batteries. When they end up in the residual waste, they become damaged and can catch fire . This happens especially in garbage trucks, where waste is compressed. In Nunspeet, a driver recently had to dump the entire load on the street twice in one week because a fire broke out.

According to the NVRD, battery fires occur almost every week somewhere in the Netherlands, as reported by the Stentor . Examples include fires in garbage trucks along the A1, in Heeten, and in Ommen.

Taskforce research shows that an average garbage truck contains around twenty vapes. This equates to 140,000 vapes per week and over 7 million per year. Because vapes use lithium batteries, which are more powerful but also more susceptible to fire than regular batteries, they pose additional risks.

Illegal, flavored disposable vapes also often end up in the trash. This is especially concerning for waste processors, as there are hardly any options for deposits or collection systems.

Waste management companies are warning that the safety of their employees is at risk. Small fires can often be extinguished, but they can quickly escalate into major fires. Moreover, insurance is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain due to the high risk.

Some waste management companies are exploring the use of scans to detect batteries in containers, similar to checks at Schiphol Airport. However, that solution is expensive and still a long way off.

Waste management companies are therefore advocating for greater awareness among households. Their advice: don't throw batteries and vape pens in the residual waste, but dispose of them separately. A simple container at home can help prevent dangerous situations.