Batteries are causing fires in recycling trucks
Batteries from –Power-Tools, Toys, Phones, Tablets, Laptops and Cars are risky business when it comes to rubbish collection. Two truck fires have been caused by batteries locally in the past 2 years. Batteries can ignite fires in our waste collection trucks when damaged through compaction when your bins are emptied.
When a fire occurs in a waste collection truck, the contents need to be dumped to extinguish the fire properly. These fires are particularly a concern in recycling trucks as the dry, flammable material and high levels of oxygen provide the perfect environment for a fire to take hold.
These battery fires are causing harm to the environment, adding a risk to human safety and are hindering our community’s recycling efforts as we are unable to recycle the burnt waste so it ends up in landfill.
Batteries are NOT accepted in your recycling bins.
For more information on safe disposal and recycling of batteries, visit these resources:
- Safe Battery Recycling – EPA NSW
- Shop, Charge, and Recycle Lithium-Ion Batteries Safely – NSW Government
B-Cycle is Australia’s official battery recycling scheme. Check out B-cycle’s interactive map for where you can locally drop your batteries off for recycling today!
