Lithium battery warning after bin lorry fire
People urged to check household items before disposing of them
People in South Derbyshire are being urged not to throw away lithium batteries into general waste.
The warning comes after a bin lorry caught fire on Thursday when a lithium battery in a laptop was put in a black bin.
South Derbyshire District Council said no one was injured.
In a post on social media, the local authority said: "We unfortunately had a bin lorry catch fire yesterday, due to a lithium battery in a laptop being put in a black bin (for general waste).
"Luckily one of our loaders spotted the flames early, and so no members of our crew were injured.
"Can we ask that you never dispose of anything containing a lithium battery in the general waste.
"Products, such as laptops, smart phones, carbon monoxide detectors and bluetooth headsets are examples of equipment that contains a lithium battery.
"Check your household items before you dispose of them.
"If you see the 'no wheelie bin' symbol (featured here) on a product, it needs disposing in a specified disposal location."
Batteries can be recycled at supermarkets, some local retailers and Derbyshire County Council's waste recycling centres.