On 22 March 2026, crews from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire at a recycling centre in Waltham Abbey. Firefighters from Waltham Abbey Fire Station brought the fire under control after a lithium-ion battery was found smoking inside a container of household waste. The service is now warning residents across the county, including in Colchester, to keep these batteries out of their household bins to prevent similar fires.
Jason Gould, the Station Manager for Basildon, Billericay, and Wickford, urged the public to never put batteries in skips or domestic waste. Residents should instead use official collection points such as the Colchester Recycling Centre at 221 Shrub End Road. You can find your nearest recycling location by visiting the Love Essex website.
According to data from the National Fire Chiefs Council, battery fires in bin lorries and waste sites have previously reached highs of over 1,200 in a single year—a 71 per cent increase from 2022. Recent estimates from fire experts suggest the annual cost of these incidents has now reached over £1 billion. Almost all local authorities (94 per cent) say these fires are an increasing challenge.
These batteries are common in items like mobile phones, laptops, and vapes. When they are crushed or damaged, they can undergo “thermal runaway,” a chain reaction that produces toxic gas and intense flames. Since April 2025, recycling centres in Essex have processed more than two tonnes of vapes to ensure they are disposed of safely.
