Wirral Council has issued a reminder to residents about what they can throw into grey bins, after a recycling truck caught fire this morning.

The fire started in the Biffa bin lorry in New Brighton when a disposable BBQ that had been discarded into a household recycling bin was emptied into the back of the truck.

The local authority Tweeted this morning: "Important reminder: BBQs should NOT be disposed of in household recycling bins.

"Biffa have had a recycling truck fire in New Brighton this morning due to a disposable BBQ.

"Thankfully, everyone is safe. Crews are continuing the round however the incident will cause delays."

The full list of items that can be put into a grey household recycling bins is as follows:

  • cans (drinks and food)
  • card
  • cardboard boxes
  • cardboard packaging
  • catalogues
  • cereal boxes
  • corrugated card
  • cosmetic bottles (glass and plastic)
  • egg boxes (card)
  • envelopes (you don't need to remove the plastic window)
  • fabric conditioner bottles
  • glass bottles and jars (tops can be put back on)
  • greeting cards
  • junk mail (removed from any plastic bags)
  • magazines (removed from any plastic bags)
  • medicine bottles plastic and glass (empty)
  • metal jar lids
  • newspapers
  • paper
  • pizza boxes (clean - no grease or food)
  • plastic bottle tops
  • plastic bottles (including milk bottles)
  • shampoo and shower gel bottles
  • telephone directories and Yellow Pages
  • toilet roll tubes
  • unused wallpaper 
  • washing powder boxes
  • wrapping paper (not foil)
  • bleach bottles
  • cleaning bottles
  • soap and toothpaste boxes