Sussex fire crews say battery fires in recycling trucks are now a near daily danger
Discarded batteries are sparking fires in recycling lorries across Sussex, with fire crews warning the problem is happening almost every day and putting staff and the public at risk, across the country
Firefighters say discarded batteries are sparking fires in recycling lorries almost every day, after crews dealt with one at Lancing Business Park.
A lorry was emptied on Monday after smoke was seen coming from the back. Firefighters from Worthing quickly put out the blaze and made the vehicle safe. A damaged battery was later found among the waste.
Station Manager Darren Wickings from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “These incidents are becoming almost a daily occurrence across the country. People discard their batteries in their waste and as the waste is put into the vehicle, it’s crunched up and the battery is damaged. When it starts a fire it puts the staff at risk and can cause significant damage to vehicles.”
He added: “Even when we think they are empty of charge, they still have power in them. Please do not put them in your domestic waste. When they get crushed in the recycling vehicle it will cause a fire.”
He urged people to use recycling centres or collection points instead: “If you have got batteries that you need to dispose of, please take them to your local recycling centre or have a look on the website to see if there are collection points. Some councils also offer kerbside collections, but please do not put them in your bin.”