Narrative:

Just after level off from departure (FL330) a flight attendant called. I answered the call. The flight attendant sounded excited and told me that there was smoke/fumes coming from one of the aft lav trash bins. She wanted to talk to the captain so I transferred the issue to the captain. After the initial conversation with the flight attendant the captain told me to contact ATC to immediately return and that I have control of the airplane. We were given priority direct and descend. The captain also directed that we execute the smoke and fumes checklist while he continued the conversation with the flight attendant. We accomplished the emergency procedures checklist; flew fast and expedited our descent. Slowly the information coming from the back of the airplane was that the situation was under control and that there appeared to be no more smoke/fumes coming from the trash bin. ATC asked if we wanted a closer airport but we declined after determining that the situation was not as dire as first thought. We coordinated with ATC; dispatch; the flight attendants and operations that our arrival plan was to have the emergency response vehicles follow us to a gate and then have the firemen board the airplane as a precaution to assess the problem. Landed without incident. After arrival at the gate it was discovered that a passenger had entered the lavatory; smoked an e-cigarette and blew the smoke into the open trash bin. After the smoking passenger left the lav the next passenger discovered smoke coming from the trash bin and reported it to the flight attendant. The biggest threat in my opinion was the communications problems associated with using the smoke goggles. Trying to communicate simultaneously with ATC; flight attendants and each other was very difficult. We also later learned that we had a pass riding captain in the back that could have really helped in the communication in the back of the airplane but at the time we were unaware that he was there.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 Flight Crew reported being informed by a Flight Attendant of smoke coming from an aft lavatory trash bin just after level off at FL330. ATC is advised and the flight returns to the departure airport. The smoke quickly dissipates during the descent and no charred paper is found in the trash bin. At the gate a passenger admits to having smoked an E-cigarette and blowing the smoke into the trash bin.

Narrative: Just after level off from departure (FL330) a flight attendant called. I answered the call. The flight attendant sounded excited and told me that there was smoke/fumes coming from one of the aft lav trash bins. She wanted to talk to the Captain so I transferred the issue to the Captain. After the initial conversation with the flight attendant the Captain told me to contact ATC to immediately return and that I have control of the airplane. We were given priority direct and descend. The Captain also directed that we execute the smoke and fumes checklist while he continued the conversation with the flight attendant. We accomplished the emergency procedures checklist; flew fast and expedited our descent. Slowly the information coming from the back of the airplane was that the situation was under control and that there appeared to be no more smoke/fumes coming from the trash bin. ATC asked if we wanted a closer airport but we declined after determining that the situation was not as dire as first thought. We coordinated with ATC; dispatch; the flight attendants and operations that our arrival plan was to have the emergency response vehicles follow us to a gate and then have the firemen board the airplane as a precaution to assess the problem. Landed without incident. After arrival at the gate it was discovered that a passenger had entered the lavatory; smoked an e-cigarette and blew the smoke into the open trash bin. After the smoking passenger left the lav the next passenger discovered smoke coming from the trash bin and reported it to the flight attendant. The biggest threat in my opinion was the communications problems associated with using the smoke goggles. Trying to communicate simultaneously with ATC; flight attendants and each other was very difficult. We also later learned that we had a pass riding Captain in the back that could have really helped in the communication in the back of the airplane but at the time we were unaware that he was there.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.