Batteries placed in household bins are the leading cause of fires in waste collection trucks. When batteries and battery-embedded products from power tools, toys, phones, tablets, laptops, and cars are placed in bins, these items can be crushed or damaged during collection. This can cause them to spark and ignite, leading to dangerous fires inside waste collection trucks. These fires are of particular concern in recycling trucks, as the dry, flammable material and high levels of oxygen provide the perfect environment for a fire to take hold.
When a truck fire occurs:
- The load must be dumped immediately to extinguish the fire safely.
- Burnt waste cannot be recycled and must be sent to landfill.
- Fires put drivers, emergency responders, and the community at risk.
- The environmental impact increases due to lost recycling and additional landfill waste.Â
đźš« Never place batteries in any residential bin
To keep our community safe and protect our environment, batteries must be disposed of correctly.
Options for correct disposal include:
The Community Recycling Centre
- Loose household and car batteries
- Batteries from vapes, if removed from vaping equipment
- E-waste that has embedded batteries, such as mobile phones and laptops.
- Visit the B-Cycle website to find your nearest battery drop-off point
- Most major supermarkets and bunnings stores accept common household batteries for recycling.
For more information on the safe handling and disposal of batteries, visit the NSW Environment Protection Authority “Never Bin a Battery” webpage or contact the Remondis Harbour Cities team on 1300 362 360.
Let’s work together to reduce fire risks, protect our waste workers, and support better recycling outcomes for our community
