Lithium Battery sparks fire in North Warwickshire bin lorry
North Warwickshire Borough Council are urging people to never put lithium batteries in household bins
A lithium battery thrown into a household bin caused a serious fire in a North Warwickshire bin lorry earlier this month.
The incident happened during a routine early morning collection in a rural area. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the fire was quickly brought under control.
However, the bin lorry involved has been permanently damaged and is no longer safe for use.
Replacing a refuse vehicle can cost around £250,000, while repairing the back of the vehicle could cost approximately £125,000.
Councillor Margaret Bell, Chair of the Community & Environment Board, said: “I am deeply concerned that this incident has occurred. The unsafe disposal of batteries presents a serious risk to our crews, our services, and the fire service.
"A plea to our residents - please do not put batteries or vapes in any of our bins. As a Council, we are thankful that no one was injured in this incident, and we remain committed to protecting the safety of our staff and the community.”
North Warwickshire Borough Council is urging residents to dispose of batteries and small electrical items safely.
Councillors advise that batteries should be saved up and taken to local shops or recycling centres, while small electrical items can be taken to household recycling centres for proper disposal.
The council stresses that using the correct disposal channels helps prevent fires, protects staff and equipment, and keeps waste collection running safely for the community.