Community
30 August, 2024
Battery explodes in truck hopper
A BATTERY, left in a household kerbside rubbish bin, has caught alight inside a waste truck’s hopper.
A council waste contractor was placed at risk during a recent kerbside bin collection.
The contractor experienced a dangerous and potentially threatening fire due to an exploding battery within a truck’s waste hopper, after collection of a Moyne kerbside landfill bin.
Moyne Shire mayor Cr Ian Smith said thanks to closely monitoring his camera feed, the driver was able to take quick action to stop the vehicle and extinguish the fire before the entire load caught alight.
“Batteries of any kind are not permitted in kerbside bins,” Cr Smith said.
“This kind of episode is happening more frequently, and places workers’ lives at risk.
“Apart from creating a fire hazard, batteries that end up in landfill can also leak toxic materials into waterways and our ecosystems.”
Council staff ask that all householders and businesses take great care to ensure batteries are not placed in any of their four bins.
Information on battery recycling can be found at https://bcycle.com.au.
