Brisbane City Council says residents throwing away batteries and flammable items in their household bins has sparked a surge in fires in garbage trucks and at dumps.
The Council has recorded 140 rubbish fires in the past five years, with incidents of potentially deadly fires and explosions becoming concerningly frequent.
“We take community safely serious and unfortunately many residents don’t realise throwing batteries in their household bins is causing potentially deadly fires and explosions in our suburbs,” said Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner.
“Just recently a battery ignited and nearly struck someone in the head, we’ve had to dump loads of flaming rubbish on our suburban streets and fires are frequently starting in rubbish pits at Resource Recovery Centres.
“Batteries don’t belong in bins, and we all must take responsibility for keeping our city safe but also clean and sustainable.
“As residents buy more vapes, e-scooters and e-bikes it’s important batteries are removed and disposed of correctly and never put in household bins.”
QFD Assistant Commissioner John Cawcutt echoed the Lord Mayor’s safety message.
“It’s important that residents don’t dispose of rechargeable devices or batteries in their household bins because they’re likely to be damaged during the waste disposal process,” he said.
“Household bins will be emptied into a rubbish truck or dumpster that is likely to have a compactor to compress the waste and this impact is very likely to cause sufficient damage to spark ignition and a potentially significant fire or even explosion.”
In the past five years, Council says there have been 43 instances of what is called a ‘hot load’, which occurs when a garbage truck must dump their entire rubbish load onto the street (pictured, above) due to an explosion caused by a flammable item.
Batteries can be recycled for free at any of Council’s four Resource Recovery Centres located in Chandler, Willawong, Ferny Grove, and Nudgee.
Council also holds free Household Hazardous Waste days, allowing residents to dispose of items that are not accepted in general waste bins such as bleach and garden and pool chemicals.
