Vigilant Scanning Limited ("VSL") - Battery detection and fire prevention in the UK Waste and Recycling Industry (the “Industry”)

在整个英国，每年有300多起重大火灾发生在废物和回收地点。其中约65%(约200起有毒火灾)是因疏忽处置在废物和回收过程中损坏的锂离子电池(“电池”)而点燃的，导致爆炸性点火。这200起电池火灾每年造成超过1.58亿GB的直接经济损失和数不清的环境破坏。为满足消费者需求，预计2024年电池年产量将达到350亿美元，比2018年增长7倍。随着大量废物进入全球废物系统，电池引发火灾的风险大大增加。虽然有些是散落在垃圾中，但许多被整合到日常产品中，如手机、电脑、电动牙刷、电动工具、电子产品，甚至音乐贺卡。通过应用其专利的创新技术和这项工业研究的结果，Vigilant Scanning的团队将开发一种扫描仪，能够在垃圾车中的压缩垃圾进入废物和回收过程之前检测和定位电池，而不需要直接的视线。VSL的扫描仪还将为网站提供宝贵的额外数据，以提高其运营效率，并优化材料回收，使环境更健康、更清洁。废火问题并不局限于英国。通过这笔公共资金，我们的目标是：*在全球范围内减少有毒废物火灾；*促进更安全的回收和更清洁的环境；*促进更绿色的英国经济的技能、就业和生产力；*所有这些都不会对消费者产生不利影响。如果生产者和消费者同时开展教育活动，改变制造方式，使电池易于获取和拆卸，并引发行为改变，增加对电池的安全处置，这些目标将更快、更好地实现。如果不能将这些废物处理在适当的电气箱中，可能会导致损坏的电池着火，并在不到一秒的时间内达到500摄氏度以上。投射超过1米长的侵略性火焰(类似烟花或照明弹)，同时嵌入高度易燃的废物材料\[例如，参见[http://www.mewlaw.co.uk/3clips-batteryfires.mp4][0]\]The废物和回收行业，环境局和英国消防和救援服务正在参与并全力支持这一项目，警觉扫描团队感谢这一公共资金将提供的支持，帮助我们帮助英国，并最终帮助世界。[0]：http://www.mewlaw.co.uk/3clips-batteryfires.mp4

Across the UK there are over 300 major fires annually at waste and recycling sites. Approximately 65% of these (c.200 toxic fires) are ignited by negligently disposed of lithium-ion batteries ("Batteries") damaged in the waste and recycling process, resulting in explosive ignition. These 200 Battery fires cause over £158m of direct economic loss and untold environmental damage annually.To meet consumer demand, annual Battery production is projected to reach 35billion in 2024, a seven-fold increase on 2018\. With high volumes entering the global waste system, Battery initiated fire risk is greatly increased. Whilst some are loose in the waste, many are incorporated into every-day products like mobile phones, computers, electric toothbrushes, power tools, electronic gadgets, and even musical greetings cards. When compacted and processed, these become damaged, resulting in the fires.By applying its patented, innovative technology and the results of this Industrial Research, Vigilant Scanning's team will develop a scanner capable of detecting and locating Batteries, without the need for a direct line-of-sight, within compacted waste in a refuse truck before it enters the waste and recycling process. This will enable site operators to take remedial action, mitigating the fire risk.VSL's scanners will also provide the site with valuable additional data to increase its operational efficiency and optimise recycling of materials for a healthier, cleaner environment.The waste fire problem is not confined to the UK. Through this public funding, we aim to:* enable a global reduction in toxic waste fires;* enhance safer recycling and a cleaner environment;* boost skills, employment and productivity of a greener UK economy; and* all with no adverse impact on consumers.These aims would be sooner and better achieved if concurrent producer and consumer education initiatives effected changes in manufacturing, making Batteries easily accessible and removable, and elicited behavioural change to increase safe Battery disposal.Failure to dispose of such waste in appropriate electrical bins can result in a damaged battery igniting and reaching over 500° C in less than a second, projecting an aggressive flame over 1m long (resembling a firework or flare) whilst embedded in highly combustible waste material \[e.g. See [http://www.mewlaw.co.uk/3clips-batteryfires.mp4][0]\]The Waste and Recycling Industry, the Environment Agency and UK Fire and Rescue Service are engaged and fully support this project and the Vigilant Scanning team is grateful for the support this public funding will provide in helping us help the UK and, ultimately the world.[0]: http://www.mewlaw.co.uk/3clips-batteryfires.mp4