NLWA | North London campaign targets five major fire-risk items

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has launched “Lead the Charge”, a campaign highlighting five common e-waste culprits: electric toothbrushes, smartphones, e-scooter batteries, vapes, and power tools, often wrongly thrown in general waste. Each contains lithium-ion batteries that can overheat to 800°C, posing a major fire hazard. Fires at NLWA facilities have more than doubled from 6 in 2023 to 13 in 2024, largely due to e-waste items such as vapes. 

Supported by the London Fire Brigade, the campaign urges residents to recycle their old electricals safely at local reuse and recycling centres, on-street e-waste banks, or retailer drop-off points listed on the Recycle Your Electricals website. Lead the Charge forms part of NLWA’s wider effort to reduce dangerous battery fires and raise awareness of responsible e-waste disposal across north London. 

Source: www.nlwa.gov.uk