Stroud district residents are being urged to make three simple changes to their recycling routine after a warning that batteries and vapes placed in household bins can cause fires in collection vehicles and waste facilities.
Stroud District Council is using Recycle Week 2026 to share advice from its collection crews, focusing on how residents can help collections run more efficiently and safely. The guidance applies across the district and centres on flattening cardboard, leaving recycling loose and using the council’s kerbside service for batteries and vapes.
What residents are being asked to do
Residents should flatten large cardboard boxes to roughly the size of their recycling box before putting them out. The council says bulky boxes can quickly fill collection vehicles, forcing crews to leave their rounds to empty the vehicles more frequently.
Flattening the cardboard allows crews to make better use of the available space, so more recycling can be collected before a vehicle has to return to the depot. People who regularly have more cardboard or paper than will fit in their containers can collect additional recycling boxes free from the council offices at Ebley Mill during opening hours. Home delivery is also available for a small charge.
Recycling should be put out loose rather than inside plastic bags. According to the council, this helps collection crews identify materials more easily, reduces contamination and increases the amount that can be successfully recycled.
Why batteries and vapes are a fire risk
Batteries and vapes should never be placed in household refuse or recycling bins. The council says incorrect disposal can cause fires in collection vehicles and waste facilities, putting collection crews and equipment at risk.
Residents can instead use the council’s kerbside collection service to recycle up to 10 household batteries and five vapes each week. Batteries should be placed in one clear bag and vapes in a separate clear bag. Both bags should be left on top of the food waste bin lid on collection day.
The warning is particularly relevant to residents who may assume that small electrical items can be handled in the same way as ordinary household recycling. The council’s instructions distinguish between the two types of item and ask residents to keep batteries and vapes separate when presenting them for collection.
Council message during Recycle Week
Angela Gillingham, head of community services at Stroud District Council, said the changes were straightforward but could improve safety and collection performance.
“Our crews work hard every day to collect recycling from thousands of households across the district, and there are a few simple things residents can do that really help.
“Flattening large cardboard boxes, keeping recycling loose and recycling batteries and vapes separately only take a moment, but together these small actions help collections run more smoothly, improve safety and ensure we can recycle as much material as possible.
“Recycle Week is a great opportunity to remind residents that many of us are already doing the right thing. By making a few small improvements to how we present our recycling, we can all help Stroud district recycle more and waste less.”
Residents can sign up for the council’s waste and recycling newsletter for service updates, collection information and further recycling advice. The source also directs residents to the council’s online information about ordering recycling containers, battery recycling and vape recycling.
