Moyne Shire Council says a Council waste contractor was placed at risk during a recent bin collection after a battery dumped in a kerbside landfill bin exploded.
Mayor, Ian Smith said the contractor experienced a “dangerous and potentially threatening fire” due to an exploding battery within a truck’s waste hopper.
The Mayor said that, 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,” said Mayor Smith.
“This kind of episode is happening more frequently, and places workers’ lives at risk,” he said.
“Apart from creating a fire hazard, batteries that end up in landfill can also leak toxic materials into waterways and our ecosystems.”
“We ask that all householders and businesses take great care to ensure batteries are not
placed in any of their four bins.”
