Artists are invited to propose concepts for a public installation designed to mitigate battery fires in east London.

The East London Waste Authority (ELWA) aims for the artwork to motivate local residents to recycle small electronic devices and batteries at specified recycling locations, instead of discarding them in regular household bins.

Lithium-ion batteries found in compact electronic gadgets like vapes, wireless earbuds, e-scooters, and toys can catch fire when crushed during waste collection or processing.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has indicated that they “suspect” these lithium-ion batteries are contributing to an “increasing number” of blazes in refuse trucks and at waste management facilities.

The ELWA expressed a desire to hire a designer to develop a “visually striking installation” that will travel through the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Redbridge in 2026 to raise awareness about this issue.

Miraj Patel, chair of ELWA, stated, “Battery fires in refuse trucks and waste management sites continue to be a significant challenge for all local authorities.

“Last year, there were 229 fires in ELWA’s waste facilities, marking a 57% rise from the previous year.

“These incidents not only cost the waste industry millions but also present considerable dangers to the frontline workers involved in waste collection and processing.”

Artists are required to submit their proposals online by 09:00 GMT on February 9th.