07/10/2026
Fires caused by batteries being incorrectly thrown away with household waste are breaking out every month in Malta, prompting WasteServ to issue a nationwide warning over the potentially serious consequences.
WasteServ has teamed up with the Civil Protection Department to launch Be Smart. No Spark, a campaign urging people to properly dispose of batteries and electronic waste.
The problem can begin with something as small as a single discarded battery.
When batteries are thrown into household waste, they can be punctured, crushed or otherwise damaged while rubbish is being collected and processed, potentially sparking fires which can spread rapidly.
And batteries are hiding in more household items than ever.
Wireless headphones, electric toothbrushes, toys, power banks and disposable vapes can all contain batteries, meaning electronic items can easily find their way into the wrong waste stream without people realising the danger.
WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca warned that improper disposal poses a risk to employees, emergency responders and waste facilities.
“Our aim is to encourage people to stop and think before throwing electronic devices away,” he said.
Meanwhile, Civil Protection Department director general Peter Paul Coleiro warned that battery-related fires can intensify “very rapidly” and could even lead to loss of life.
“If the message of this campaign is heeded, serious fires can be prevented,” he said.
WasteServ is urging people not to throw batteries or battery-powered electronics into ordinary household waste.
Instead, they should be taken to the appropriate collection points, including Malta’s Civic Amenity Sites and WasteServ Roadshow Trucks.
The campaign will continue over the coming months, focusing on helping people identify electronic waste and the increasingly common products containing hidden batteries.
Have you ever accidentally thrown a battery-powered device into your household waste?
