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Lithium batteries, disposable vapes and other electrical items placed in kerbside collection bins are putting waste truck drivers at risk.
Nine recycling and rubbish trucks caught fire in Auckland in the first three months of this year, compared with 13 for the whole of last year.
Three of the nine council trucks were so badly damaged they had to be taken off the road for repairs.
Auckland Council general manager for waste solutions Parul Sood says these fires pose a risk to the public as well as truck drivers, and the main culprits are most likely lithium batteries, disposable vapes and other electrical items placed in kerbside collection bins.
“When a fire sparks in the back of a truck, drivers must act fast to follow safety protocols, which often involves them ejecting the load onto the road for Fire and Emergency New Zealand to extinguish,” Sood says.
“While drivers are given training to handle these emergencies, they are still unnecessarily being put in extreme danger.”
Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson Peter Gallagher says people might not be aware of the serious risks that some household items pose.
“Correct disposal is essential for any hazardous items, which includes any battery-powered or electrical device,” he says.
The types of hazardous items that cannot be placed in rubbish or recycling bins include vapes, car batteries, electric scooters, jump-start packs, aerosols – paint and butane canisters, gas bottles – and lithium batteries and devices containing these batteries.
Lithium batteries can be found in a range of household items such as laptops, mobile phones, hearing aids, power tools, power banks, rechargeable batteries and disposable vapes. During the compaction process in the truck, lithium batteries can rupture or short causing them to ignite.
Often items can be disassembled by specialists for components to be reused or reconditioned. For guidance on where to dispose of these items safely and in many cases, for free, visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/whereitgoes
• Battery recycling is available at Less Waste in Snells Beach. Disposal of car batteries is free, alkaline batteries cost $5 per kilo and lithium, button, rechargeable, mixed cost $8 per kilo
• Most vape shops offer a vape recycling service, or go to www.vapecycle.co.nz
See a short video of the contents of a recycling truck on the road being extinguished by the fire brigade. Credit, Auckland Council.
