Disposable vapes that had not been correctly disposed of are believed to have caused around 30 tonnes of rubbish to go on fire inside a lorry on the Newtown Bypass.

A section of the busy main road was closed for more than eight hours on Friday (June 7) as firefighters removed and dampened down the smouldering mixed recycling from a large goods vehicle.

The road between the Llanidloes Road and Dolfor Road roundabouts was closed from 3.50pm on Friday to around 12.30am on Saturday (June 8) due to the lorry’s contents spreading onto the bypass.

Around 30 tonnes of recycling waste was dampened down on the Newtown Bypass on Friday, June 7.Around 30 tonnes of recycling waste was dampened down on the Newtown Bypass on Friday, June 7. (Image: MAWWFRS)

Firefighters worked from Friday afternoon to early Saturday morning to put out the fire.Firefighters worked from Friday afternoon to early Saturday morning to put out the fire. (Image: MAWWFRS)

The Newtown Bypass was closed due to the lorry's contents on the road.The Newtown Bypass was closed due to the lorry's contents on the road. (Image: MAWWFRS)

Firefighters removed bags of recycling waste from the lorry.Firefighters removed bags of recycling waste from the lorry. (Image: MAWWFRS)

Disposable vapes that had not been correctly disposed of are believed to have caused the fire.Disposable vapes that had not been correctly disposed of are believed to have caused the fire. (Image: MAWWFRS)

Firefighters dampening down the pile of recycling waste on the Newtown Bypass.Firefighters dampening down the pile of recycling waste on the Newtown Bypass. (Image: MAWWFRS)

The Newtown Bypass was closed for around eight hours while emergency services were on the scene.The Newtown Bypass was closed for around eight hours while emergency services were on the scene. (Image: MAWWFRS)

Crews responded to a LGV containing general recycling waste.Crews responded to a LGV containing general recycling waste. (Image: MAWWFRS)

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning about recycling lithium-ion batteries, are hidden inside many everyday household electricals, which can become crushed or damaged in bin lorries or waste sites if they aren’t recycled and can lead to a fire.

“Crews responded to a LGV containing general recycling waste which was smouldering in areas with high temperature readings,” a fire service spokesperson said.

“Crews gained access to the vehicle’s trailer to extinguish the fire and proceeded to remove approximately 30 tonnes of mixed recycling to turn it over and dampen it down.

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“Crews utilised three hose reel jets, one thermal imaging camera and small gear to remove the waste and extinguish the fire.

“This incident required a multi-agency response with Natural Resources Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police and the Local Authority in attendance. MAWWFRS crews left the scene at 12:27am on Saturday, June 8th.

“This fire is believed to have been caused by disposable vapes which had not been correctly disposed of. Several disposable vapes were found within the lorry’s contents, which seemed to have been crushed and damaged, which would have sparked and ignited the rest of the rubbish within the lorry.”