Somerset Council and its waste collections contractor SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK are warning residents not to put gas canisters in their kerbside recycling after a serious fire was narrowly avoided at a recycling-sorting facility.

It was only thanks to the swift and effective actions of staff that no-one was injured and the facility did not burn down.

Canisters have caused a number of fires at recycling sorting centres – but the most serious incident could have closed down the facility if staff had not acted so promptly.

In the last six months, almost 1,500 canisters have been put into blue recycling bags and numbers have increased due to this summer’s hot weather as people barbecue more often or enjoy a camping trip.

Matthew Canning, Contract Director – Somerset at SUEZ said: “We cannot express enough the importance that gas canisters are not put in residents’ recycling or rubbish.

“In fact, we had a fire last Friday that could have easily burnt down the facility, if it wasn’t for our highly trained and vigilant staff members putting it out.

“We have had issues and fires at the recycling processing sites, caused by gas canisters, for a long period of time now and it really needs to change.”

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste, said: “The dangers are very real as this latest incident proved. These canisters are pressured and can spark an explosion when crushed.

“Collection crews are not always able to see if a canister has been put in the bright blue recycling bag and the danger comes when going through the sorting process. This puts staff at risk of injury. We’ve already had four fires in a month – fortunately these were dealt with quickly and efficiently before they could spread.”

Residents can take small gas canisters to any of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites and speak to a member of site staff about where to leave them.