Large number of vapes discovered hidden inside scrapped car bale

A metal recycling firm in Northern Ireland has warned the vehicle dismantling industry of the hazards posed by lithium-ion batteries after it discovered a substantial number of vape pens concealed inside a scrapped car bale.

Sergio McKenzie, executive director at Belfast-headquartered McKenzies Ltd, wrote in a LinkedIn post that this “illegal and dangerous practice” puts staff and equipment at unnecessary risk due to possible fires and explosions.

“There is no place in our industry for practices that compromise safety,” he said. “Every legitimate yard has a responsibility to remove hazardous items before vehicles are baled. Failing to do so puts everyone further down the supply chain at risk.”

McKenzie said his company since launched an investigation to identify the site responsible for supplying the hazardous car bale.

“We have found the source of the load thankfully, and are pushing with the full weight of legislation onto the supplier to ensure no other yard is affected by this malpractice in the future,” he said.

He linked the bale back to a “large recycling and scrap metal business” in the Republic of Ireland, who he claimed has “illegally shipped this waste across the UK border”.

“If you’re in the recycling or vehicle dismantling industry, please take this as a reminder: safety is everyone’s responsibility,” McKenzie concluded.